The Test Of Life

• Kaitie Alabaster, Grade 7, Belgrave Heights Christian School
• Short Story
• 2014

Finalist in the 'The Text Generation 2014' competition

I wake up in a daze trying to adjust my eyes to the light, but all I see is black. I try to move around, but I can’t. I thrash and crash and do anything I can to get out. My heart beat getting faster. I hear a slight crack, so I move around harder and faster. Suddenly everything around me crashes and sand fills the air space.
I open my mouth slowly to speak but a river of wet sand falls into my mouth. My heart starts racing as I choke the sand back out, nearly coughing up a lung. I need to get out, I struggle to move my arms and legs, but it doesn’t do much. I could be stuck here forever. My heart is slamming against my ribs. I start to violently dig to the side of me, as I’m trying to figure out which way is up. Dry. Up will be drier. I have made enough room to move around as I dig what I think is up. I take big gulps of air - it’s running out. My whole body is shaking trying to find air. My lungs are burning. I’m going to die. I am going to die. Every small breath is like fire.
But suddenly, a breakthrough. I thrust my head into the outside world and take a deep breath. Shaking, I pull myself out from the sand, the sun almost blinding me. I’ve never been so thankful to just breathe. My body starts to relax as I realize how heavy I am. I look at my surroundings; beach towels, umbrellas, even people, but no one seems to notice me.
Heat takes over my body. I’m too tired to do anything, but I need to cool down. I need to get to the water. They’ll leave me here if I don’t get to the water.
Using all my strength I pull myself towards the water, but it just feels like I’m digging a hole. Suddenly, I hear swoosh, first there’s one, then there’s five, getting louder each time. I drift my gaze upwards, white and orange objects are flying towards me.
Seagulls.
I duck my head again and again, I do it so many times my neck aches. They peck my back like its hollow, and pain shoots through me, but I need to get to the water. I will be left here, they will go without me if I’m not in the water. My vision is blurring in and out of focus so much that all I see is a pale yellow. Just as I’ve given up all hope, a cool splash brushes up against me. I have made it. With the last bit of my energy I haul myself into the water.
Everything becomes clear. The sea feels so good I don’t want to leave. Seaweed to either side of me, my brothers made it too. And there’s my mum, the sea turtle.