Cold Turkey

The silence between tick and tock stretches, threatens to suffocate me. They all hate me. I wish I hadn't come. I don't even like turkey.

There weren't many people on the beach that day. Mostly just us. We are a big family. Step siblings, half siblings, and foster kids as well. 

My mum, my little brother (Toby), and my little sister were all in the water. Georgia wasn't even two. I was on the beach when mum passed out.

Now, Toby, he was a fair swimmer... but he panicked when mum fainted. And Georgia, well, she couldn't swim a stroke. She was wailing, Toby was panicking, and me? No time to think or plan or decide. My legs kicked into action long before my brain. I was off down the beach, faster than I've ever gone in my life.

the feel of the sand, feet sinking, pushing off, flying, faster, faster, but maybe not fast enough...

By the time I hit the water, heaving in lungfuls of air, I didn't know what I was going to do. I yelled at Toby to grab her! GRAB HER! and then pulled Mum to the surface, turning her face to the sky.

She was heavy. I kicked furiously, daring my legs to tire. I didn't look back at Toby and Georgia. I squashed them out of my head. I couldn't afford to think about them.

A runner with his partner saw me pulling her out of the water, and stopped to help. He knew what to do, and started CPR. His partner made the call for help.

I sprinted back into the waves. Toby was white as a sheet and shaking. Georgia was wailing. But they were alive, conscious, breathing. I helped them ashore.

Mum has never forgiven me for that day. None of them have. For choosing her and not Georgia. I tried to explain: it was instinct, I had no time to stop and think about it. I rationalised: We all needed her. Mum, I mean. She was the one unconscious. And look, everyone is okay now.

Her eyes drilled into me, ocean-cold.

"Right. And you don't need your baby sister."

We are not ok.

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Word count: 366

(NB. This excludes the title, subtitle, and author's note.)

Submitted on Wednesday 6th November

Quick Author's Note

A Year of Stories: I'm writing (and submitting, here) a story every day this year. This continues my 311 (!!!) daily micro-fiction story streak since 1st January.

ONLY FIFTY-FIVE DAYS TO GO!

Please consider lending your support to the other creators on this madcap "a story every day" adventure. They're putting out excellent content every day!

Rachel Deeming

Gerard DiLeo

Thank you

Especially if you are one of the wonderful people who has been staunchly reading these daily scribbles since the start of the year. I see you, and I am extremely grateful for your ongoing support.

Thank you to those who leave feedback/comments.

I am still plodding away, catching up on reads. Where I'm already up to date with all someone's stories, I read someone else's in lieu!

If you enjoyed this one, the very best compliment you can give me is to share it, or read another!

Here's my latest dollar challenge. I think you might love it:

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Thank you again!