We were standing in the sea. Not too deep, but not too shallow, either. Knee-deep, for a young [[girl]].
<audio src="https://file.garden/Zd0m57wq23DtYCCe/sea%20waves%20%5Bcalm%20sound%20of%20waves%20in%20the%20sea%5D%20NO%20COPYRIGHT.mp3" autoplay>We were holding hands. The waves splashed against our bodies. The summer sun was hot and shining; our sweat cools under droplets of seawater. Our friends were nearby.
It was nothing out of the ordinary, a typical summer [[vacation]].
<img src="https://file.garden/Zd0m57wq23DtYCCe/studio%20project%20fndt/Untitled_Artwork%202.gif" width="885" height="615">
<audio src="https://file.garden/Zd0m57wq23DtYCCe/studio%20project%20fndt/sea%20waves%20%5Bcalm%20sound%20of%20waves%20in%20the%20sea%5D%20NO%20COPYRIGHT.mp3" autoplay>(text-colour:#ffc078)[[Then suddenly, you felt her let go.]]
(text-colour:#74c0fc)[[Then suddenly, all I saw was blue.]](text-colour:#ffc078)[The first wave loosened the grip you had on her. You tried to search for her hand, you tried to remain in control of the situation.
You were not able to grab her before another wave pushed you [[over]].]
<img src="https://file.garden/Zd0m57wq23DtYCCe/studio%20project%20fndt/Untitled_Artwork%206.gif" max-width="885" height="615">
<audio src="https://file.garden/Zd0m57wq23DtYCCe/studio%20project%20fndt/Project%20-%201_4_24%2C%201.23%E2%80%AFPM.mp3" autoplay>
<audio src="https://file.garden/Zd0m57wq23DtYCCe/studio%20project%20fndt/Underwater%20ambience%20%26%20deep%20ocean%20video%2C%20no%20copyright%20ocean%20music.mp3" autoplay>(text-colour:#74c0fc)[The moment was a blur, and my vision was a blur, too. The sea was all encompassing, and I was just a young child. I still didn't understand its magnitude, and maybe that was why I wasn't panicking yet.
I lifted my head for [[air.]]]
<img src="https://file.garden/Zd0m57wq23DtYCCe/studio%20project%20fndt/Untitled_Artwork%204.gif" width="885" height="615">
<audio src="https://file.garden/Zd0m57wq23DtYCCe/studio%20project%20fndt/Underwater%20ambience%20%26%20deep%20ocean%20video%2C%20no%20copyright%20ocean%20music.mp3" autoplay>(text-colour:#74c0fc)[I tried to, at least.
But instead of air, I caught another wave, which brought me back down to blue, so much blue. The panic began to settle in, like the rumble of the storm before it pours. It brewed in my chest as I was fighting to bring myself out of the [[water]].]
<img src="https://file.garden/Zd0m57wq23DtYCCe/studio%20project%20fndt/Untitled_Artwork%205.gif" max-width="885" height="615">
<audio src="https://file.garden/Zd0m57wq23DtYCCe/studio%20project%20fndt/Project%20-%201_4_24%2C%201.23%E2%80%AFPM.mp3" autoplay>
<audio src="https://file.garden/Zd0m57wq23DtYCCe/studio%20project%20fndt/Underwater%20ambience%20%26%20deep%20ocean%20video%2C%20no%20copyright%20ocean%20music.mp3" autoplay>(text-colour:#74c0fc)[I wasn't a good swimmer, but I was strong enough to pull myself out. I don't remember crying afterwards. I was in shock, I [[think]].](text-colour:#74c0fc)[I sat on the sand, relatively far away from the ocean. I spaced out for a while, but I heard my dad calling for me to come back in.
He didn't want me to be afraid, and he was trying to help. So I [[listened.]]]
<audio src="https://file.garden/Zd0m57wq23DtYCCe/studio%20project%20fndt/sea%20waves%20%5Bcalm%20sound%20of%20waves%20in%20the%20sea%5D%20NO%20COPYRIGHT.mp3" autoplay>(text-colour:white)[A flash of] (text-colour:blue)[blue.]
(text-colour:white)[(Because it was just my luck that this happened twice in a [[row]].)](text-colour:#74c0fc)[I didn't mourn it while I was trying to get back up. I was under for a shorter period of time, I think. It might've only felt that way. The moment is a blink of colours, textures, noises.
Feelings? I'm not entirely sure. I feel like there should've been panic. But I do have the tendency to react to things //extremely// [[late]].]
<img src="https://file.garden/Zd0m57wq23DtYCCe/studio%20project%20fndt/Untitled_Artwork%207.gif" max-width="885" height="615">
<audio src="https://file.garden/Zd0m57wq23DtYCCe/studio%20project%20fndt/Underwater%20ambience%20%26%20deep%20ocean%20video%2C%20no%20copyright%20ocean%20music.mp3" autoplay>(text-colour:#74c0fc)[It's a little funny, I can't recall anything about the rest of the day after that incident.
But I know I didn't go back into the sea. And I wouldn't go back for a [[while->home]].]
<img src="https://file.garden/Zd0m57wq23DtYCCe/studio%20project%20fndt/Untitled_Artwork%208.gif" max-width="885" height="615">(text-colour:#ffc078)[There was nothing else which you focused on, there was nothing else surrounding your thoughts. All you were thinking about was reaching for her hand, but it didn't meet yours.
You're out of the water before she is; before your [[friend]] helps her.]
<img src="https://i.imgur.com/Y5or5bC.gif" max-width="885" height="615">
<audio src="https://file.garden/Zd0m57wq23DtYCCe/studio%20project%20fndt/Project%20-%201_4_24%2C%201.23%E2%80%AFPM.mp3" autoplay>
<audio src="https://file.garden/Zd0m57wq23DtYCCe/studio%20project%20fndt/sea%20waves%20%5Bcalm%20sound%20of%20waves%20in%20the%20sea%5D%20NO%20COPYRIGHT.mp3" autoplay>(text-colour:#ffc078)[She sat away from the ocean. Your husband, her father, tried to call her over. He wanted to help her get over her fear.
She didn't [[come]].]
<audio src="https://file.garden/Zd0m57wq23DtYCCe/studio%20project%20fndt/sea%20waves%20%5Bcalm%20sound%20of%20waves%20in%20the%20sea%5D%20NO%20COPYRIGHT.mp3" autoplay>(text-colour:#ffc078)[You realised that, after growing afraid of the ocean, she becomes more like you.
She didn't go back in the sea. And she wouldn't go back for a [[while ->home]].]
<img src="https://file.garden/Zd0m57wq23DtYCCe/studio%20project%20fndt/Untitled_Artwork%209.gif" max-width="885" height="615">