Swimming 📝

I walk to the head of the pool. Step up on the starting block. “Beep,” the watch answers and starts a three-second countdown.

One last deep breath, relax. Jump.

The air soars past me, and I dive into the water with a splash. For a moment, the water takes my breath away. Then the automatism takes over; one stroke after another propels me forward.

Reaching the end of the lane is my only thought. Lane after lane until exhaustion.

• /writing