writers_loft | To say the least.

She treaded the water, careful and fully aware of the slow movement she made. She held her breath and felt the pressure build up in her chest as her arms began to circle faster. Her legs lost the pattern they were mimicking and she left out a loud gasp; she was panicking.

“Help!” She managed to gurgle as water flooded her open mouth. Her blurred vision could only make out the slight shaking movement of his head. “Please!” She spit out the chemical water and struggled to focus on staying afloat. She felt her soaked clothes weigh her down.

She was sorry, very sorry. She had never meant for this to happen; she knew he’d be angry but…She had apologized a million times before. She didn’t want it to end this way.

She thought about what she did and felt disgusted with herself. The intensity of the moment. How the adrenaline rushed through her as she seduced a more than willing man. How she thought she’d get away with it. He had a right to hate her; he had the right to do this, right? She felt herself justify his actions and slowly, stopped trying. It was all over. She couldn’t survive this and this is what she had coming.

“Don’t you dare!” She heard him say from the patio chair. “Don’t take the fun out of this, Elise!” His voice was rising and that sent a jolt of fear down her spine.

“I…I…” She pushed with her legs. “I’m sorry.” She blurted out, trying to keep her head above water.

“I know you are doll. I am too.” Out the corner of her watery vision, she saw him stand up and make his way toward her. She didn’t have the ability to turn to him.

She shook her head, quickly and that triggered a violent shiver.

“No, I’m sorry I hurt you. I’m sorry I made such a mistake. And I’m sorry it has to end like this.” As she said those words, she felt her face prickle and her eyes sting with tears filled with selfish emotions. She was speaking the words of a martyr.

“Do you have that much doubt in my conscience?” He said bending down at the edge of the pool. She didn’t answer, her head bobbing with effort. “I don’t want to do this Elise, but you brought it upon yourself. You can’t play with people’s feelings.”

She blew out the water that had slipped into her mouth.

“All, I’m doing is playing right back.”

“With my life!” Elise’s teeth clattered and she bit her tongue, wincing in pain. She say the flash of fury on his face as he stood up.

“You started it,” He said, childishly.

She felt an air f doom loom over her. The sense of finality rang in his voice, loud enough for her heart to beat painfully against her constricted chest.

“Now’s the time to give up, Elise. I’ve given up on you.” His voice sounded far away. Elise felt herself slowly become calm despite her racing heart. “Do the same, why don’t you?”

Elise knew her legs were slowing they’re cycle. She felt her arms stop trying against the resistance of the water. She was giving up; this is what he wanted. What she deserved. The water level was rising- no, Elise was sinking. She felt the cool water enclose her warm neck and closed her eyes. She thought about how her mother would feel. To know her daughter, her only daughter was gone. Fell into the pool by accident, surely, that’d be the story. But through these thoughts of self-pity, a small voice was screaming. Elise did not want to die. She wouldn’t.

But as the clear blue water closed above her head, her ears plugged, her mouth filled with chlorine that now, tasted sinister- she realized it was much too late.

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