Dolphin Play

            I was completely submerged in a cannon ball like position. I judged my distance from the bottom and kicked out. I was soaring up through the water, I leaned back and rolled. Kicking up to the surface bubbles streaming out behind me. I gulped one refreshing mouthful of air and sunk flipping my body as I went. Now stiff as a board I extended my arms, the moment they were fully extended my hands hit bottom. I bent my arms and shoved off the floor. Out of the water, the freezing air stung my body, and diving back in, my one breath still kept me alive. I flipped once, twice, three times before floating back to the surface and one more gulp of air.

            Completely alone, the quiet water, oblivious to the screams and shouts echoing around me. The diving board dips low and springs back into position as weight is released. A splash and some muffled cheer; I don't hear any of this. I am a dolphin. Flipping. Dipping. Not with others, but alone.

            I dip weave and dodge around the other swimmers. They're talking, laughing and playing. I alone am swimming. The deep presses on my eardrums, pain, pain, pain but I must keep going. My finger tips brushed the ground and I furiously swam upward. My eardrums stung by the cold feeling raw and exposed. A minute later however the warm water encloses around them and they feel fine. A few flips later and suddenly, shockingly I hear:

            "Five minutes left," the lifeguard yells.

 My golden bubble was broken. I lay on my back, wasting the last five minutes I had in the pool. All too soon I was told to get out. Hoisting myself out of the pool I struck out for the dressing room and the cold winter air I would meet as soon as I stepped out of the huge front doors.