The Swim

It is hard to tell which millenium it was now. All I can say is that the whole world was one narrow water channel that can hardly fit ten bodies side to side; and the whole human race was swimming on the troubled water. There was a strong mechanical smell in the air with the incessant sounds of tired pale arms breaking water with every stroke, and fatigued hiss followed by a sharp intake of precious air. There was hardly room for people to do anything else than trudge along with the mass of bodies.

My lungs were burning with lack of air, and I could feel my hands getting heavy and leaden. It was then that I had this strong urge to turn around. And I did.

Ignoring the angry slaps of arms on my face, I plowed through against the human current. I knew I had to turn back. And I did not even have to try to know why. The reason was there somewhere in my mind, and will show itself when I reach there.

I took a lungful of breath and ducked underneath the water to go deep enough to avoid the resistance. Once there, I jerked my thighs powerfully and propelled forward. It felt much better with muted sounds on my ears and the smoothness of flow. Once every while, powerful kicks on the surface sent waves of force that feebly tried to press me downward, but it just felt like futile grasps that I ducked out of.

Suddenly, I did not feel the need to go to the surface to breathe anymore. I was more urged to go forward than upward, and I had this pressing urgency that I am about to reach there.

Soon, the water started to seem pink. Then it did become pink, and even deepened in color, although the transparency remained. And about twenty arm's length in the front floated the reason...

She was delicately holding a flower that seemed to radiate a crimson color into the water. Once I got near enough to discern her jovial facial features, she mouthed "How did I know that you were coming?!"