I. Release

She stepped into the water. The sun hung high in the sky, warming her already burnished shoulders. The water was warmer than she expected, though she still found the feeling comforting. The ocean hugged her ankles, beckoning her to wade deeper, so she did. Her toes gripped the sand, pulling her farther. The sea floor dropped. She dropped. She gasped.

II. Drink

The water tasted bitter. She spat. It spat back. The water moaned, creeping through her inner ear, telling her to be quiet. She struggled to find an argument. The water decided to help. It slithered down her throat, only to draw out a silent rattle.

III. Look

The water pulled her threadlike hair from behind. She stared up. Lithe clouds bordered the already clear sky. Sea birds chased one another, glancing below, hoping to spot a fish, but seeing nothing they cared for. The water dragged her hair around in spirals, circling her face, forming a halo. She contemplated, staring up at what she knew so well.



IV. Empty

Her eyes moved from side to side, surveying all that they could; taking in what they knew so well. They centered in on the sun strung high above the Earth. They wanted so desperately to continue their inquiring. Her eyes froze, coming to a standstill. The vigor they possessed for a final glance was resolved to a thoughtless glare.

V. Aware

The muscles in her face stretched. Her eyebrows raised, her cheeks fell. Her eyes remained thoughtless. She maintained a new guise. The drone of the ocean explored her body, opening her mouth wider, scrutinizing deeper.

VI. Breath

The water did not simply wander in, though it wanted to; her lungs compressed, decompressed, compressed, decompressed, drawing the water in, curious of its presence; disturbed. They struggled to rid themselves of this all-encompassing opposition, so it persisted with simplicity.



VII. Bound

Her legs begged to shift, as did her arms. Floating, they bobbed weightless with the water’s repeating sighs. She could not move. She could not stir her position. The water held her arms, a paradoxical hostility.

VIII. Relax

Her body knew it could not remove itself from the site it was bound. With every breath the vast ocean took, her body synchronized; attempting to take hold of each tumble that was produced. But the water closely circling her frame decided not to lessen its grip. There was no traversing, no turning over.

IX. Shudder

She was not doing it, although she wanted. The water took each wrist, each ankle, unwillingly, thrashing them together. Her arms clawed at the water, but she could not grip. Her legs kicked at the water, but she could not hit. There was no fight. She fell still.




X. Release (Reprise)

She sunk deep beneath the water. The sun fell from the sky, pushing down upon her shoulders, though she still found the feeling comforting. The ocean hugged her in entirety, beckoning her to sink, so she did. Her fingers grew limp, guiding her farther. The sea floor dropped. She dropped. She went.