|
Swift River
I had slept late that day, and the sun was high overhead. Its brightness caused my eyes to ache and I began to feel as though I was trapped in my body. Each step was more painful than the last, and was causing me to gasp. My ulcers radiated an acrid sting around their perimeter as I applied weight to each leg. My calves had an itchy, stingy feel as they pulsed with insect poison. I was dreading my forthcoming battle with the insects down at the river again. But the most gripping pain was my lungs. Each breath was an ordeal and the pain of breathing was actually making me need to gasp deeper.
I slowly descended the steep rocky path to the river and made it to a nearby rock. I had to stop here because I just couldn’t get enough air into my lungs to accommodate the exertion of the walk and all of the pain. I was concerned that Mama would have to leave me behind and it suddenly dawned on me, that I may not ever see my Mum and my sister again. I felt so alone. I began to cry, but I couldn’t get enough oxygen for my sobs. I felt like I was suffocating, my sobbing soon turned into gasping, I couldn’t breath. My rational mind took over then, I knew I was beginning to hyperventilate and I had to get a grip on myself. Slow and deep I forcefully commanded myself, Breath slow and deep.
|
