THE UNDERWATER PULL

Dream stood at the edge of the shoreline; the ocean breeze playing with her hair. She swayed her feet side to side; feeling the roughness of the sand beneath them. Her thoughts focusing on the unforgettable experience she had the first time she discovered her strongest passion- her gift of the underwater life. She would never forget the first time she visited the depths of the water; so cool on her skin; water-soaked hair seemed to weigh her down. She liked it; she liked every bit of it. She realized then, she could actually live a productive life down there. What she liked the most though... There was so much to explore; it seemed larger than the earth itself. Everywhere she turned; down in the deep waters; there was some other magical place to explore. And the pull to gravitate into such a beautiful sight; always became stronger; so intense she could not control it any longer.

She had just under an hour to make the biggest decision of her life; she weighed the good with the bad. The rhythmic sound of the waves echoing around her, snapped her back to the present; this was the moment that had been building up for so long, that magnetic call of the sea that she couldn't ignore. She had a choice to make.

As she watched the horizon, Dream’s mind wandered back to that evening around the campfire with her closest friend. The stars had been bright above them; the flames of the fire twirling and rolling in sync; there was a comfortable warmth as they shared their hopes and dreams. She could still hear her friends voice so clearly in that memory, saying, “No matter what happens, we’ve always got each other's back, right?” And Dream replied, “Absolutely. I’d never break that promise.”

That promise had become a part of her, a guiding star in her life. And now here she was, at a crossroads; feeling the weight of that commitment and the pull of a new adventure all at once.

She realized then that honoring that promise didn't mean she couldn't follow her heart. In fact, carrying that promise with her would give her strength. With a deep breath, she smiled; her friend would want her to embrace this journey. The love and memories she carried would always be with her, a reminder that promises can be both a bond and a source of freedom.

And so, she took a step forward; arms stretched out in front of her, she dove; the ocean water swallowing her into the whimsical depths below.

Crystal Bailey, a small town introvert, who carries a deep passion for writing. She uses her thoughts and feelings as a foundation to create writings that are meaningful and inspiring to others, hoping that in some way, they impact her audience just the same.