the pool to the other, very very slowly. step after step, all the while aware of the swimmers in the lap pool across the way, gliding back and forth and back and forth with ease.
until i felt the presence of someone beside me. walking slowly. step by step. and another. some hanging onto the wall, some simply stepping up and down on the steps, up and down and up and down. i put my head down, pushed off the wall, and took my first stroke.
like riding a bike, once you swim, you never forget how. one smooth stroke after another until my fingers touched the wall. i pulled off my 