I stared at the computer screen on my desk, not really seeing it. It was bright, it hurt my eyes. All I could see was the the surface of the ice cold water. Felt the rush of not having air… felt the anxiety. Felt the moment where I gave up, and resurfaced.

Two days later… I wondered what made me change my mind. I’d like to think it was more than fear.

My thoughts were interupted by a second-grader walking in the office. I see this girl a lot. Her hair was in cute pig-tails today, with those hair-bands with two plastic balls on them, that everybody has a different name for. She had scraped her elbow, which she now held in her hand, with ice.

She looked sad, but when she looked up and saw me she brightened. “I fell” was all she said.

“Ouch, come here. I’ll help you with that.” I cleaned her elbow up and gave her a band-aid, talking with her the whole time.

“Thanks, I’m glad you were here, instead of that mean lady.” She smiled and left, skipping.

And I was glad I had changed my mind.