It's like

two waves

crashing
never ending

im gonna sink. if nothings done i'll be gone.
drifting a
w
a
y

suddenly, there it is.

cold fingertips, squeezing my wrist,
holding onto me.
pummeled by torrents.
my head sinks below the waves. the hand pulls me back up.
the air is warm as i gasp for breath.
when will this end? i'm tired of fighting. but nails dig into my wrist, refusing to let me sink.

the waves keep crashing.
we keep struggling.
again.

again.
again.

the hand around me refuses to relent.
i give up fighting.
they won't let me.

fresh waves sweep over me.
again, i'm pulled back up.

i finally get a good look at this fighter.
unlike the tumultuous waves, they glow
like the stars on a dark night.
my wet hair slaps me across the face. the waves grow stronger. too strong. they're crashing. i'm sinking. the grip on my wrist begins to loosen. their glow begins to flicker. i'm going to fall. the waves are going to take me.

i close my eyes. everything will be over in a second. i wish the person would just let me go. my wrist falls from their grasp, and i fall.

d
e
t
f
i
instead i'm l

my eyes open. i'm out of the water. the waves continue to crash below me. how am i here?

the figure is holding onto me, their arms wrapped around me. glowing wings keep us above the storm. their lips are moving, but i can't hear a thing.

all i know is that i'm out.

i'm alive.

the wind slaps me in the face, and i'm back.

"you're safe," is what i hear. safe? but
the waves are only right under us.

i want to scream.
if you drop me, i'll fall back in.
i don't want to go back there. the only thing keeping me from the chaos is them.

i expect to feel the sting of cold water, but they never let me go.

instead, they hold me tighter.

"rest, now. i'm here."

the sea is still stormy, but the waves can't catch me from where we are. i'm scared. my fingers claw desperately at my savior. i hear my voice. i sound desperate.
don't go, i say.
i don't want to go back, i say.

they nod, and take a deep breath. in this moment, the storm seems to settle, if only for a moment. my savior leans into me, and whispers into my ear softly.

"i won't let you fall."