Fiction

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Today was my first dive meet. I could barely hear my parents encouraging advice over my racing heart beat.
When we pulled up to the pool, I couldn’t stop shaking. I was so nervous. The thought of free falling off a ledge into a pool of freezing water scared me to death. Having a ton of eyes watching you, waiting for you to fall off was excruciating.
“Crystal.” My friend Susie was already saving me a seat on the benches. My parents disappeared into the crowed. I could barely keep track of them.
“Are you nervous?” She asked me.
“Can you tell?” I looked her as if I was about to vomit.
“Stay calm. We still have thirty minuets.
Those thirty minuets went faster then thirty seconds. Before I knew it, the first dive had begin.
A girl from Paso Robles High School went first. She looked like a swan souring through an evening sky. Her dive was flawless.
Then Susie was about to go next. I was worried for her. Ever since practice she would always loose control at the end of every trick. Making her landing into the water a little sloppy.
To my amazement, she was beautiful. She surprised us all with a back flip off the edge. I wasn’t even aware we were practicing that. She must have been their after I left.
“That was so good. You make it look so easy.” I couldn’t help but envy her strength. Not in muscle but in her willingness to leap off. That was my hardest part. My body eventually molded into any trick without hesitation, but letting go, leaping into nothing. That was my fear.
“Do you want to know a trick?” She replied back to me.
“Of course.”
“I pray.” She said with a smile.
“Crystal?” The coached called. “Your up.”
“I just stared at her. Pray. Was she crazy what on earth is that going to do? I didn’t even know how to pray.
I was walking up to the edge of the pool. Looking over at the crowed. I was unbelievably able to see my parents. They were right in the front of the crowed. My mom had her camera flashing non stop.
Once I was at the top of the ladder looking down, my body froze. I forced myself to walk over to the ledge. I did nothing but close my eyes.
I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t just jump.
I opened my eyes and looked down directly at Susie. She just smiled and nodded at me.
I then closed my eyes again. I just spoke out loud.
“God. Lord. Jesus. If you can hear me. I need help.” Boy was I crazy. “I need your help. I need you to save me. I want you to save me. Please give me total strength.” I opened my eyes a few seconds later. Looked up in the sky. Their were nothing but clouds.
Not a second later and I could feel an uplifting in my body. I immediately rose my hands in the air. Took a deep liberating breath and jumped. My twist and dive speared straight into the water with no problems.
I rose my head from the water and felt like I came out a new person. I felt lighter. I felt happier. I felt like I wanted to jump up and down and scream with glory. It wasn’t because of the fact I did an amazing dive, it was the fact that someone heard me. Someone did save me. I might not have seem him, but he was their.
I looked over at Susie and it was like she could see right threw me. I wasnt scared at all.
When i sat back down she gave mea hug.
"Thank you." I said softly.
I felt so connected with her. Not in a weird lovable way, but as a sister, in a spiritual family way.
Today God did more then hear me. He truly picked me up when I was in need of him most, and he saved me. In all the ways I could be. He gave me a new life.

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