Cold’s Embrace

Written by: Collette Cottingham

 

The water is deep this time of year. The snow run off has filled her shores. One toe in will have you gasping for breath. At mid leg you are numb and can’t feel your feet. At your waist you find yourself sucking in your gut as if it would save you from the sting of the cold. Once you are all the way in you feel refreshed.

“Do you have that report Maia?”

“Yes I emailed it to you.”

“Perfect thank you.”

Leave it to work to interrupt a good day dream. Yet it wasn’t a day dream. It was a memory. A time when you laid back into the water and let it completely immerse you. Underwater you would open your eyes and look up at the sky. You can still see the beauty of the sky through a hazy lens. It is funny how there is no pain in opening your eyes under water.

Then you rise up breaking the water’s edge as doves fly across the horizon. In that moment you have been reborn cleansed of the past. The water has given you a sweet cold embrace.

“Where are your thoughts?”

“Oh Mariah, you caught me dreaming about my weekend.”

“Do you have any plans.”

“Yes I am going to Crescent Lake.”

“Oh that lake is freezing.”

“Yes it is, because it is filled with River water. It is freezing when you first get in, afterwards it is refreshing. The swim is fabulous for my mind, body and soul.”

“Your whole body is probably numb! It sounds like you will have a great time.”

“Aye, the past is calling me home.”