You tell me to think about the mechanics, the form

as if it were the last one I’d ever do. This is on the pool deck

after I start complaining about the practice ahead of me --- that 5k race

of seconds, minutes, even hours, smack after smack and dive after dive.

Why the mechanics? I ask. Why not just throw myself off the board and see where it takes me?

I sought the deep determination on the other girls’ exhausted faces, fear taking my breath away.

The sun set behind the ominous clouds, threatening to rain down if the sun set any more,

my dark shadow cast on the wall behind me, shivering, standing, waiting for my next turn.