Jimmy Ferrer

The water was ice cold and the tile, now wet, was slick under my feet.

I failed to keep balance and fell forward, grabbing the tile as tightly as I could.

The water pushed me, but I gripped so hard my fingers popped.

I forced myself back up to my feet, and the water was up to my waist now.

The flow of the water back and forth now made it impossible for me to keep my feet flat on the tiles.

I bent my toes over the edge, grabbing the sides with my feet, clawing desperately to stay upright.

1,200.

The frigid water was up to my neck.

The cold stung my skin like thousands of shards of glass rubbing across my entire body.

And then a wave carried me off the platform and flung me into the open waters.

I flailed about and tried to tread water, but I could feel an undercurrent pulling me straight down.

I held my breath and tried to find which way was up, but everything was so dark I couldn't orient myself.

I couldn't so much as see my hand in front of my face.

It didn't matter though, as I had nowhere near the strength to fight the vacuum under my feet.

I was flying downwards at a horrifying speed.

The water was flowing against me with more force than a water cannon.

I gasped for air, but felt a rush of cold water flow into my lungs.

It burned like acid, and coughing only moved the water in and out.

I felt like I was being strangled.

Every breath I tried and failed to take made my lungs burn deeper and hotter despite the cold.