I allowed one last bubble to escape from my mouth
Before I approached the surface;
I captured the restrictive feeling
That forced every limb to resist the water, as if I were stuck in a straitjacket.
Numbness had quickly spread throughout my body,
And my head was left with no space
For extra thoughts or one more gasp of air.
I shot to the top like a rocket, which gave my body no time to adjust.

I strung my wrinkled fingers
Through my thick, obnoxious hair
And flung it back
As I hoped to clear my frustrated eyes
From the chlorine sting
That felt as if it was forever instilled in the sockets.

A cool breeze found its way into every nook of my body,
My muscles tensed,
Then shook intensely into a shiver.
I felt the goosebumps
That rose from my dry, slightly tanned skin like the formation of a mountain,
And my nostrils expanded
From the awful pool stench that penetrated them.

I was interrupted by the faint snap
Of a large digital camera,
Followed by several soft snickers
That playfully twirled around my ears
And caused the hairs on my neck to stand up straight.
My head swayed slowly to the side
To see the unforgettable and contagious smile
That was spread across her youthful face
And gave the feeling of being loved – unconditionally
By my best friend:
My sister