(no subject)
I wanted to jump in the water. To cool off. I wanted to make sure no one was watching, first. When I could be sure no one could see...no one on the sidewalks, no one in the gym, no car pulling in or out of the surrounding parking lot, I did it. Well, no, I hesitated. I took my sunglasses off. Had to be careful. Checked again to make sure no one saw. No one saw the run, no one saw my awkward run, no one saw the less than graceful jump.
And. Then. I felt the air completely. Like being suspended, not by wires like an acrobat, but by air instead. The moment seemed to stretch strangely. I was aware of the moment before the jump, the warm cement under my feet. I was aware, too, of the way the water would feel. Cold at first, fine when I was in, and even colder when I climbed out. It was just that, I snatched my sunglasses from the table and replaced them, just in case someone was looking. Just in case my mascara had smudged after my dive. And I padded back to my bare-bones lounge chair.
And I wrapped my old towel around my shoulders. And I returned to a peaceful state. Cooler than I was before I had jumped, but warmer than when I first shimmied out of the pool. And I was glad I had jumped.
And. Then. I felt the air completely. Like being suspended, not by wires like an acrobat, but by air instead. The moment seemed to stretch strangely. I was aware of the moment before the jump, the warm cement under my feet. I was aware, too, of the way the water would feel. Cold at first, fine when I was in, and even colder when I climbed out. It was just that, I snatched my sunglasses from the table and replaced them, just in case someone was looking. Just in case my mascara had smudged after my dive. And I padded back to my bare-bones lounge chair.
And I wrapped my old towel around my shoulders. And I returned to a peaceful state. Cooler than I was before I had jumped, but warmer than when I first shimmied out of the pool. And I was glad I had jumped.