Molly

Molly was swimming laps in the pool, just like every other summer afternoon. Her parents had enrolled her in swimming lessons from a young age, and when her and her sister showed a deeper interest, their parents had invested in a good size in ground pool. That was 10 years ago. Sometime in between, Beth had lost interest in swimming, but molly swam religiously every summer. During the winter, she swam at the community pool. 
She wasn't sure what kept her in the water for at least 90 minutes a day. Sometimes, she used the rythmic motion to distract herself from her problems. Other times, it provided a distraction-free environment for her to sort out her life. During the school year, there were swim team practices three times a week, so that right there was a good excuse to be in the water. 
Her parents went through a phase where they thought she didn't swim enough. That was when they thought she could one day bein the Olympics. Once high school started, their perfect plan went down the drain, literally. Molly got sick one summer, and couldn't swim for two whole months. That's when they decided she was swimming too much. She pushed herself too hard, and that's why she was sick. 
After that incident, Molly's need to swim increased. It was her alone time. Her parents had years of experience to know not to bother her, and her body could use the soothing motion to get back in shape. Molly had forgotten how good the water felt, how free she was. 
That incident was 3 years ago. Now, high school was over. Molly would take a few technical courses next year. She was hoping to get a job at the local radio station she volunteered at. As far as she could tell, it would all work out in the next few years.

A shadow passed over her in the pool. She paused at the end of the lap, looking up to find hairy legs and flip flops. Marcus.

"That time already," he said as she hauled herself out of the pool. Once a week, she and Marcus volunteered at the YMCA, teaching kids to swim. Marcus was her neighbour and two years her senior. He had left town for college, but returned during the summer. They had been on the swim team together one year. She learned what he did at the Y the previous summer when he noticed that she was still swimming. She asked if she could tag along and be useful. Marcus didn't mind giving her a ride, even when she was dripping wet from having just got out of the pool.

"I'll go grab my bag," she replied.