The impact was sudden. I flew back and hit the water with a loud crash. I quickly knew that I was sinking. The water was frigid, compared to the heat I was standing in just moments before.  The pressure in my ears was getting painful, but it was like nothing that was happening to my chest. My body soon found the floor of the pool, and for a moment there was an eerie silence…but the weight kept working. I felt the cuts in my skin stinging because of the acid-like chlorine. Then it got worse. The sound of my cracking sternum traveled through my body and the water, amplifying the effect. I was running out of oxygen. I’m pretty sure my adrenaline kicked in by now, because I can’t remember feeling a thing right then. The water lightened the weight, so with my remaining strength I shoved it off of my torso and to the side. My vision blurred, I see the rays of light reflecting off of the surface, an illusion of it being more brilliant that it actually is. I move me arms, and the agony finally shoots through my being. I bend at the knees and the pain is less intense, though it still demands to be felt. I place my feet beneath me and try to push myself up.  I know I won’t last much longer. I feel broken from the inside out, I’m tired. I look up once more towards the light. I slightly bend and push from my left foot, ready to kick with my right. I involuntarily gasp, my body’s plea for surrender. I shut my water filled mouth, my lungs burning.