Chapter 7

He reached out and grabbed hold of the floating wood. It was warm and dry compared to the refreshing water. He cringed at its hard splintered surface. He blinked and in a moment he saw the endless days of the raft, slowly dying of hunger and thirst. He saw himself wake up and fall asleep to the same endless expanse of hopelessness. And he saw himself die, many days and weeks from then, shriveled, despondent, his heart and soul long since perished.

His hands dug into the raft, sending fragments of the wood into his fingers. The pain jarred him from his lifeless visions that lay before him. He jerked his hand away from the raft wincing in pain. But the pain of his fingers were no match for the pain in his heart.

He treaded water silently, his labored breathing the only sound. He could still feel the cold water awakening his nerves as it flowed past his arms and legs. Even in his exhaustion, it enlivened him. Even in the face of the hopelessness of the raft, the water brought him joy. He looked down to the water below him. How far would it go? How deep could it be?

With one last look at the raft, he turned his face towards the water. With a large inhale he took in as much air as he could, and with a peace filled smile on his face, he dove downward. He plunged into the depths of the water, feeling it surround and penetrate him. His lungs ached as he pushed down and down, farther into the water than he had gone before.

His skin tingled and his mind was bombarded with feelings, memories and emotions. He remembered himself. He could see the green grass he used to fall asleep in, the comfort of an embrace, the softness of a single kiss. It was all there, every part of him now returned. He was whole again. With every kick downward he was awash with new sensations and memories.

His lungs burning from their unnoticed emptiness, the man slowed his descent and closed his eyes. He let everything, the water, the memories, the emotions the peace, completely envelope him. At that moment, it didn't matter how it happened, it didn't matter where the water came from or where it would take him. It only mattered that he had found it, and found himself.

With the last bit of his breath, he let out a long powerful laugh into the deep blue. He laughed and shouted until his lungs began filling with water. As he slowly sank downward into the dark, his smile remained. His hope unwavering and his joy complete, his body sank deeper into the exhilerating unknown, free from its prison.