Sinking & Rising

A dream in which you were drowning

We were running late, as usual. Barefoot, feeling the grime of the city stick to our feet. Rats the size of small dogs scuttling around, hungry for anything they could find. Our heels kicked up the dust, faster, faster—don’t let them catch you.

At the crossroad, we stopped. Checked Google Maps, laughed. It didn’t matter which way we took. All paths lead somewhere, don’t they?

Downhill. Endless stairs. Blue water on either side. Clear, clean, no monsters beneath. No teeth waiting to bite, no fins to slice through the calm. But time was a monster, and it was breathing down our necks. So, we didn’t look too long at the water, didn’t let the peace sink in. We just kept moving. I fell. Slipped like a drunk on a Friday night. Landed hard, bag saving my bones from cracking.

I turned back. You were there. White shirt, two sizes too big, flapping like a sail, and one of my skirts making you look like art. Your bag, carelessly slung over your shoulder. I told you to switch it, put it on your back, balance yourself. You listened. Always listened, even when you shouldn’t. But this time I’m glad you heard me.

I reached the bottom of the slippery slimy stairs first. Looked back. You were almost there. Just a few more steps. But then—splash. You went down. Into the water.

At first, it was fine. You swam. You always swam. I shouted encouragement, felt the words ring in my ears. Then you stopped. Stopped paddling, stopped moving. And you sank.

No struggle. No flailing. Just down, like you decided it was time to go.

I screamed. A part of me broke open. Panic shot through me. I couldn’t lose you. I yelled your name, my heart pounding. I dove, the water cold, heavy, pushing me back. But I wasn’t giving up. I kicked, arms reaching out, lungs burning & screaming. You were so far down. I thought about letting go. Thought about how easy it would be to stop. Sink with you. Stay in uninterrupted silence forever.

Then I saw it. Your hand, rising through the blue. A black clip between your fingers, like that was the most important thing in the world. I grabbed your wrist, kicked harder than I thought I could. Come on. Come on. I wasn’t begging. I was commanding.

And then, we surfaced. Gasps of air, lungs exploding, life flooding back in. You woke up. Just like that.

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Mo’s Note:

I scribbled loose ends of this post after jolting awake up from a dream. The person in the white shirt, two sizes too big is my little sister. We always shared a closet till we started living in different homes. I didn’t feel the urge to decode my dream like I usually would. The message was pretty clear. I will always look out for her. I will always be there for her. I will always swim towards danger if she’s in the thick of it. We will be safe. We will be together.

in it to win it kinda girls

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Nature is brimming with poetry, if you just take the time to listen. This guide offers everything you need to dive into the beauty of nature with a poet’s eye.

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If you want to read (or bookmark) epic writers, here’s some inspiration:

1. My spirit animal is a crab by

   Anandita

2. The Job of Friendship by

   Ankita

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