The clock has 4 hands with a different colour for each, but it's the green one I'm concerned with, green means "go". Like a pin-wheel they continue to make their way around and the green hand is now at the 45 second mark, breathing deep and relaxed. Now the 50 second mark, exhale and inhale one more long inflow of fresh air. There it is, 55 second mark, three quick shallow breaths, one long gasp and the last thing I see before I drop below the surface is the green hand at zero.
Tile floor comes up into my view and stretches out across the bottom like a super wide runway and I get a momentary rush of euphoria, I can tell this will be a good one. Reaching out ahead of me my hands cupped then pull back to my sides and my body glides ahead another two meters. I hear nothing and only look for the other wall now 28 meters ahead of me. So calm, not concious of my body at all, I am flying and each stroke feels deliberate and natural. Nothing is going through my mind, no signal, no stress, just pure exhilaration in the moment, the only place I need to be right now.
The far wall is closing in now, not much longer to go, yet it is beginning to feel unreachable. Releasing a steady stream of bubbles from my lungs I can start to feel my body rejecting my minds commands to hold on, even for just a few more seconds. Closer now, the muscles in my chest are twitching, I must stay calm, it's all in my mind, I can do this. The force to take a breath is nearly irresistible but there is only a meter to go, I'm uncomfortable but still in control, I got this. I reach out for the wall and wait just one more moment before I pull my head up above the surface. Still focused I rise out of the warm liquid resolving not to take my first breath until I see that green hand. There, the mark made and I focus on it while getting my first breath since going under. Takes a second to register in the brain as my body goes back into it's normal breathing rhythm; one minute and fourteen seconds.
I have never been able to hold my breath for more than 30 seconds and now getting used to the water and working on my comfort level, I realize I have been missing something. For most of my life I have stayed away from water and there is a realization that I have really missed out. However being there now and training my body and mind to be a part of it is a rush that I have only felt from a few other activities in my life. Again pushing past fear and ignorance while adapting your body to a new environment is such an amazing experience. And to think that all a person needs for this is water.
