i lay beneath the ice
my hands graze the top of the ice inches away from the surface
and i reach for a place to grab and steady myself but the slippery ice wont allow my hands to stay steady
i pound on the ice gulping water with every effort to escape
i scream hoping the sounds of my voice would free me from the cold but the ice is too thick
i scratch and kick at the ice and every time i think im getting somewhere i realize im sinking further and further away from the surface
the screams in my throat become bubbles in my chest