Gasping For Air

• Gabrielle Eivers, Grade 6
• Short Story
• 2014

Gasping for air.
How did I get here
in something like water?
Its strong current
is pulling me out into nothing.

I stop and try to get back to shore.
But it’s already too late.
The waves start to swirl, I feel my feet being swept from underneath me,
Then I’m pulled under.

Gasping for air…
I try to break through to the surface,
But I can’t.
My lungs hurt so much
I want to give in.
But yet I still fight.
Yelling out to no one
For help
To save me.

People walk past
They see me,
I know they do.
I think they will stop.
They don't.
Why not?

Gasping for air…
I realize…
I’m not in water.
I’m floating in words…
Lies… tangle me!
Torment… paralyses me!
Bullying... suffocates me!
I can’t fight the hurt anymore!
and so I sink…
down…
down…

… and I drown…
in
the
words.