Treading Water (For The Watchers Comp)

A day at the seaside
Always to be treasured
Cotton candy, Ice cream
Seagulls cawing
Waves lapping on the shore
Sunshine this time
Makes a pleasant change
Factor 30 on a baldy head
No need for burning

I sit looking out seaward
Its like a mill pond: Calm
It has the same effect on me
The sea has a healing power
The awesomeness of nature
The ferry comes past to dock
Ugly in its very being
Causing waves as it churns
The ferry docks, peace restored

I look out to sea
I see a figure in the water
About half a mile out
I put on my sun glasses
Hoping to see without glare
Still can't fully identify it
Binocular time methinks
I bring the object into focus
It's a swimmer and she looks in trouble
She is waving, I almost wave back

I  hear a scream of "Help Me!"
She goes under, the bobs
Back up, arms flailing
I cannot help her
I can no longer swim
I want to call out
to those around me
but the sound won't come out
I watch as she goes under again
Again thankfully she bobs back up
I focus in on her panic
I can see she is tiring

Again I try to call out
Again my shout is silent
Nobody else has noticed
Too busy eating hotdogs
Or letting their dogs shit on the beach
I pray to the man upstairs
Apparently his day off
She slowly goes under again
I watch and wait, in hope
She doesn't come back up
And like that she's gone
I hate to say it
But watching this woman drown
Gave me a rush
Almost felt responsible
As a murderer
I was quite proud of myself
I grinned, and ate some more
Seaside cotton candy