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numb and afraid to pull her get you a Ziploc of ice and some
head out of the water. She knew pain pills. She was the Coach.
that once the cold air hit her face
it would be unbearable so she That's the only reason she
turned fast and tried to swim could get in there in the first
back to the deep end to stave it place after hours. During the
off as long as she could. day she watched her girls move
up and down the lanes.
She could hold her breath Dolphins, not mermaids. The way
for a pretty long time. That they talked, somebody might
empty burning feeling that think they almost hated being
people get in their chestswas an girls. You couldn't tell by the
old friend to her now. She knew earrings in their ears or the
when to expect it and even flowery designs on everything
though it came a little sooner they owned, or their bright nail
because she was hurt, she kept polish and hair accoutrement, but
pushing forward. Evenwhen she when they spoke they spit fire.
tilted her head down she could They could trash talk with the
see the thin red trial behind her; best of them. Don't dare tell
she forced her body into its these femmes what they can and
familiar poses and pulled herself cannot do. World record,
through the water. To the wall, Coach? No problem. Olympics?
Alice, to the wall. The burning Don't mind if I do.
spurred her on. Eachbeat of her
heart. Head down. The wall. They were perfect. They
Head down. The wall. were just like her. Spitting image.
She could see it now. As Yes, she was the Coach. So
Soonas she touched she pushed she was alone, sitting on the side
herself down to gain the momen- of the pool. And she cried out.
tum to lift herself out of the pool. Not a swear; she didn't swear
Her face was surrounded by the (although her little charges some-
red cloud and she felt a preview times let loose when a dive went
of the pain as she shot straight awry). And it hurt for her to let
up and turned her body go, but she didn't have a choice
precisely at the right second to by this point. Her nose throbbed
sit on the pool's edge. and had begun to bleed down
the front of her swimsuit. She
It hurt. watched the trail that turned her
navy suit darker and then blazed
She couldn't shake it off now. startlingly bright at the white
No coaches around to pat you on strip across her abs. It went
your slick wet back. No lackeys down her minimal chest,
who were cut from the team to
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