“Sink or swim, I can’t give up now.”
I repeated these words, like a mantra, to myself in between gasps for the breath I was quickly running out of. I’ve never been a great swimmer but being stranded in open water was a new level of exhausting. Saltwater stung my lips and I realized I’d sunk a little lower in the water than I had been a moment before.
My muscles ached, searing with exhaustion, but I had to keep my head up, so I kicked harder, knowing my efforts would soon wane. My life began to flash before my eyes; my children’s faces, my parents, friends, loved ones. I started to realize all of the things I had never gotten to accomplish and suddenly my drive was renewed, and I flailed in the water, frantically looking around for a life preserver, a boat, a wooden door, ANYTHING that would help me save myself.
I realized long ago that the Coast Guard wasn’t going to make it in time. Not out here. Not in open water.
Out here, it’s sink or swim.
I spotted the lifeboat, empty and bobbing in the water just feet from where I was slowly losing the battle against the tide. I took a deep breath and sequestered the remainder of my energy to swim for my life.
This was it.
Do or die.
