DROWNING

by Jennifer Zavala

Reaching for the fish, slipping on the mud, I fell into the river. “Aaaah!” The impact of my fall thundered like a hundred broken windows. Grimy, pungent, water devoured me. It was arctic, bitter, and a numbing sensation ran throughout my body.

My eyes snapped open, and through the dim, murky water, shining rays of light appeared to edge their way through the surface. Mom, help me! I’m drowning! Gurgling bubbles surrounded me as a stifled scream escaped my lips. Water engulfed my mouth leaving behind a sharp, bitter, taste. The tartness in my tongue was making me nauseous. I can’t swim!  I frantically tried to kick and swing my arms around, but the fear and panic kept me underwater.

I’m going to die, I’m going to drown!!  

While trying to move about, the reverberation of a faint gurgle surrounded me like the sound of the flapping of a bird’s wings. All this shuffling wasn’t getting me anywhere. It was like trying to trudge through quicksand. As my lungs began to scream, my head felt like it was floating in space.

Nooo…Crazy ideas sprang into my head, like how the fish I’d been chasing were going to eat me alive! A bothersome buzzing sound was droning in my ears like a group of vicious bees.

Glancing at the surface, gasping for air, I’m suddenly aware of an explosive splash.  As two strong arms grabbed me by the waist, I felt myself being levitated towards the surface. I was instantly aware that I was no longer in danger the moment that the sun shown in my face.  The next thing I knew, it was my uncle who had yanked me out of the water. I am rescued!!