Battle Against The Tide

Drowning. A frantic thrash in the waves is what comes to mind at the mention of this word, but it’s far more then that, it’s a fight for survival, a fight for the right to continue on your merry way in this world. A fight that starts innocently enough but is over far too quickly, and is far to deadly, for it to be something worthwhile.
Drowning is more of a sub genre of suffocation, specifically liquid asphyxiation then its own special form of death. It doesn’t even need water to be involved as the name suggest, it could be glue from an unlucky tumble into an industrial vat or your own blood, slowly trickling into your lungs, until your body gets to the point where its to oxygen starved to even try to breathe.

It was a warm sunny day, perfect for a trip to the beach. So without a cloud in the sky or a worry in the world we were off to the beach. The trip was the same as it always was, just a prerequisite for the fun that awaited. I-Spy and was played as the radio blared out the usual “Number One Hits” of now.

And then we were there, stay between the flags they called as we raced off in a flurry of sand and laughter. The soft swish of sand falling on sand was soon drowned out by the roar of the ocean, as waves broke on dark rocks far outside of the safe haven that was between the flags. It was cold, but I didn’t care, shivering with delight

I dived under the waves with a whoop of joy.

It wasn’t long until I realized I was alone.
Gazing around I spotted my fellow ocean go-ers clustered together between the flags, having a great time in the sun. I turned my gaze in the opposite direction and was struck with panic, as dark rocks pierced the ocean no more then 10 metres away from myself. I struggled against the current as it pulled me towards the rocks, ready to tear through me as if I was one of the waves that threw themselves at them.
Panic over took rational thought as years of swimming technique was instantly for gotten and replaced with a blind urge to flail and scream.
I screamed, I shouted, I waved, until my voice was hoarse and was arms grew tired, but to no avail, as my family lounged in the sun and shallows, I was drawn into shadow as I failed to the fight the current.

I was so tired. But I couldn’t give up; I so had much left to do, and so little to show for my life so far. Could this be it? As the rocks loomed ever closer, and the boom of the waves muted all other sounds, I used all my strength, my will, my emotion into one final attempt at survival. My eyes stung and throat burned, from a combination of tears and water, as I swam with everything I had.

But the current was to strong, as my final reserves of energy were expended, I gave one last cry, one of loneliness, sorrow and anger. Did someone hear? Is my rescue imminent, I couldn’t tell.

I had lost this battle.

And as I began to sink into the water, as my vision darkened and my lungs cried out for oxygen, and as the rocks towered over me, I was finally at peace.