Meet Riley

As she paddled, body numb and muscles weak, she knew she had a decision to make. Was she a survivor? Someone who pushed beyond her physical limits in order to live? Or was she someone who gave up because it was easier? She found that the answer came in spurts. “Maybe it would be easier if I just stopped swimming and gave up.” Her arms and legs would slow, and she’d take a breath as her head bobbed below the surface. A calmness would wash over her as she sank, along with a peace of mind she hadn’t felt in a long time. But just as she started to feel a weight on her chest, her mind would shift gears, “But what if someone is close by? What if someone can rescue me? What if I am strong enough?” And just as easy as it was to give up, her head would resurface, and her muscles would be back to working overtime. Each breath she took seemed to fill her lungs with the sweetest air. The burst of adrenaline made her feel alive, alive in a way that was more precious than the time before.

This was a reoccurring dream that often had Riley waking in cold sweats, gasping for air...

(In the beginning of last year, I posted a blog post called "Meet Lucey," in which you were able to see a glimpse of a writing project I was working on. This is another snippet from a story I started recently. Hope you enjoy.)