photo byAl, the sunday photo fictioner
The canoe was a tiny red spot bobbing against the background of rainbow sunlight and the deep green of the woods.
I tried to measure the distance, but my brain wouldn’t work. Was I closer to the shore than the canoe?
The glimmering waves hurt my eyes. If I closed them, I descended into a dark watery abyss.
Could he see me? A speck treading water – an otter, muskrat, turtle or beaver?
I can see his face as I fell backward in slow motion. Hitting the water like a slab of concrete. Current pulling me away.
I knew he would hunt me. Find me. Pull me into the canoe.
I turned toward where the shore should be. With aching muscles, I stroked. Each time, mouth and eyes filling with water.
Not here. Not today. He wasn’t going to win. I wasn’t going to die. Stroke. Stroke. Stroke.
shape shifting 
Good story. I like the desperation from him, trying to get away.
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Thanks!
I almost drowned in very shallow water, and I remember the desperation of trying to get a foothold on the river bottom. I tried to put that kind of desperation (for other reasons) into the story.
Guess it worked!
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It did. I remember as a kid, falling through the centre of a rubber ring and going under water long before I learned how to swim.
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A friend’s father taught him to swim by throwing him into the water.
Learning to swim can be a scary business!
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I learned by going down a water slide when I was 14. I went down the slide forwards and carried on across the pool. While I have never been a strong swimmer, I do enough to be able to keep afloat. I could never do a 25 metre swim let alone the 200 my son got when he was 14
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Imaginative way to learn swimming! Sounds like your son is a very good swimmer!
I’m not a strong swimmer, too.
There was a pool in the basement of an apartment building we once lived in. Hardly any one used it (had showers and hot tub!) so I could do a couple of laps, then do “watersize.” — my version of exercising in the pool. Do miss that!
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I was supposed to be doing waterobics but my pain management consultant left before it was sorted out as it had to be a specific regimen
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That’s too bad. Exercising in the water makes it easier!
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Yes because you have the weightlessness there
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He’s done a good job with this story. I like the way he made you think that at first the swimmer was hoping the canoeist would see him, then, very cleverly, he twists the plot and you realise the swimmer is trying to escape. I hope he makes it 🙂
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I think the shore is closer than the canoe! Good thing I didn’t choose a red motor boat!
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Very intense, well developed, excellent piece of work.
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Thank you, AnElephantCant. Al’s picture prompts have so many possible ways to go.
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