Swim

The heat of the day leaving a soft layer of sweat on my skin,
My feet feel along the stony ground,
My toes dangle over the edge as I prepare to leap.
For a second I am free,
Glorious, weightless, above the water.
And then I hit.
The rush of cool water contrasting with the warmth of the air on my skin.
I feel the rush,
The water growing colder as I plunge into the depth.
Finally, my feet feel the familiar floor,
And I pause momentarily,
Enjoying a separate existence in an underwater world,
Hesitant, I wish to remain here a bit longer,
But the world above calls to me.
I push off the bottom.
Floating upwards,
Faster and faster,
Until I feel the air on my scalp.
I break the void between the water and the air,
And gasp in my first breath,
Refreshed and renewed by the water.