Amelia in "If Not Now, When?"
If Not Now, When?
The unforgiving Mediterranean sun beat down on Amelia's back, turning her swimsuit a shade darker orange. Sweat trickled down her temples, blurring the perfect azure of the pool before her. Here she was, perched on the edge like a hesitant fledgling, the cool water a mere footfall away. This wasn't supposed to be so difficult.
Buying the villa with the sprawling pool had been a dream come true. Visions of graceful strokes and carefree dives had danced in her head. Yet, months later, the pool remained a playground for her friends, a venue for boisterous summer parties that inevitably ended in impromptu skinny-dipping sessions - moments Amelia watched from the sidelines, a yearning ache in her chest.
Today, though, was different. Today, a tall figure with broad shoulders and sun-kissed hair stood waist-deep in the water, a gentle smile etched on his face. This was Marco, her hand-picked swimming instructor, a beacon of hope amidst her aquatic terror.
Marco had a way of making the impossible seem achievable. His instructions were clear, his voice calm and reassuring. He spoke of buoyancy, of breathing patterns, of trusting the water to hold her. Yet, here she was, rooted to the spot, a million anxieties swirling like a storm cloud around her.
Self-consciousness flared. The one-piece swimsuit, a vibrant orange she'd chosen for its confidence-boosting properties, suddenly felt all wrong. Was it too modest? A glance at Marco's physique - lean muscle sculpted by years of swimming - convinced her a bikini might have been a better choice.
"Amelia," Marco's voice cut through her internal debate, "it's alright. The swimsuit's perfect. Now, just a little step, and then we practice floating."
His words snapped her back to reality. Here she was, fixated on trivialities while the obstacle she desperately wanted to conquer loomed large. Marco, a testament to the joy of swimming, stood patiently, offering her the key to unlock a world of possibilities.
She looked at him, this kind, capable stranger who held the power to liberate her from her fear. A question formed on her lips, a question that had reverberated within her for far too long.
"If not now, when?" she whispered, her voice barely audible over the cicadas' symphony.
And then, with a deep breath that seemed to expel all her anxieties, she took the plunge.
It wasn't graceful. The water, so inviting moments ago, turned into a swirling vortex, pulling her under in a shocking surprise. Panic welled within her, a desperate gasp escaping her lips. The world dissolved into a disorienting blur of blue and green.
Suddenly, strong arms were around her, pulling her back to the surface. Marco's voice, now a distant echo, cut through the ringing in her ears.
"Easy, Amelia. Breathe. We're okay."
Disoriented and gasping for air, she clung to him for a moment. The once-vibrant orange of her swimsuit, now clinging uncomfortably to her skin, felt suffocating. With a surge of defiance, she pushed away from Marco and slipped out of the swimsuit, letting it drift away on the water's surface. The coolness of the water embraced her bare skin, a stark contrast to the heat of her panic. Relief washed over her, replacing the suffocating sensation of the swimsuit.
Marco, sensing her distress, helped her out of the water and wrapped a large towel around her shivering body. Concern clouded his handsome features.
"Take some deep breaths, Amelia. It's okay to be scared, everyone is at the beginning." His voice was a soothing balm, calming the storm brewing within her.
Shame washed over her. Her grand entrance had turned into a comedy of errors. Maybe swimming wasn't for her, maybe this whole dream was a foolish mistake.
As if reading her thoughts, Marco tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, his touch sending a jolt through her. "Look, falling in is part of learning," he said, his gaze kind. "You got scared, that's natural. But you jumped in, Amelia. That's the biggest step."
His words held a truth that resonated within her. Fear was a liar, a voice holding her back from the life she desired. Today, she had faced it, and even if she hadn't conquered the water, she had conquered her own hesitation.
A shy smile crept onto her face. "So, what do we do next?"
Marco grinned, the concern replaced by a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Well, usually we start with getting you comfortable in the water again. Maybe some shallow-end practice?"
Relief washed over her. They would try again. This time, she knew, she wouldn't be alone. Marco, with his unwavering patience and quiet encouragement, was her anchor in this vast, unknown sea.
The afternoon sun cast long shadows on the rippling water as Amelia and Marco continued their lesson. The initial terror had subsided, replaced by a newfound determination. Gone were the worries about swimsuits and the judgmental gaze of a non-existent audience. With Marco by her side, the pool no longer seemed an intimidating expanse but a vast playground waiting to be explored.
They started slow, with Marco patiently guiding her as she practiced basic floating. The water, once a source of fear, now felt strangely comforting, its gentle buoyancy a welcome embrace. The awkward doggy paddles that followed were a far cry from the graceful strokes she envisioned, but each successful movement brought a surge of accomplishment.
Laughter filled the air as Amelia, emboldened by progress, attempted a clumsy underwater somersault. Marco, ever the encouraging presence, surfaced beside her, hair plastered to his forehead, a smile splitting his face.
"Hey, not bad! Maybe next time, try pushing off the wall a little more."
As the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting the pool in a warm orange glow, Amelia felt a pleasant exhaustion settle in. Her muscles ached satisfyingly, a testament to the afternoon's exertions.
"I think that's enough for today, wouldn't you say?" Marco asked, his voice tinged with amusement.
Amelia, surprised at how quickly time had flown by, readily agreed. "Absolutely. I feel like a prune!"
Marco chuckled. "Well, you did spend most of the time in the water. Let's get you dried off."
He helped her out of the pool, the cool evening air sending shivers down her spine. Self-consciously, she reached for a towel that lay discarded on a nearby chaise lounge.
"Actually," Marco said, catching her gesture, "why don't you just relax here for a bit? The sun's low enough now, you won't burn."
Amelia hesitated, then with a shrug, decided to embrace the moment. She stretched out on the chaise, the warmth of the setting sun a welcome sensation against her damp skin. The soft murmur of cicadas filled the air, a lullaby against the backdrop of the gentle lapping of the pool water.
As she lay there, a new kind of comfort settled over her. It wasn't just the physical warmth of the sun, but the quiet satisfaction of having faced her fear. Looking back at the pool, no longer a source of intimidation, Amelia knew this was just the beginning. There would be setbacks and moments of frustration, but she also knew she wouldn't face them alone.
A gentle breeze ruffled her hair, carrying with it the scent of Marco's cologne, a mix of citrus and something vaguely woodsy. He sat down on the chaise lounge next to her, a comfortable silence settling between them.
"You know," he said finally, his voice low, "you did amazingly well today."
Amelia turned her head to look at him. The setting sun cast an orange glow on his features, highlighting the kindness in his eyes.
"Thank you," she said, her voice barely a whisper. "I... I wouldn't have done it without you."
Marco smiled, a hint of something deeper flickering in his gaze. "Well, I wouldn't have missed it for the world."
They sat in comfortable silence for a while longer, the only sound the chirping of crickets and the gentle gurgling of the pool's filtration system. As the last rays of the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in a vibrant palette of pink and orange, Amelia knew that this wasn't just the end of her first swimming lesson. It was the beginning of something new, something exciting, and maybe, just maybe, the start of something more.
Want to see more?
Get instant access »
Amelia at MPL Studios »
"If Not Now, When?" »
A Haiku: "If Not Now, When?"
Pool's cool embrace waits,
Fearful heart, a silent plea,
If not now, then when?
More Stories to love
