[b][u]The Dock and the Depths[/u][/b]

I am here again
This place, this lake
From the shore it seems so small
But the dock reveals the truth
A hesitant step
And another
The planks are old and worn
But they support me
They always do
The dock takes me out there
Over the water
Above the deep
I am scared of reaching the end
The precipice of the dock
Over the middle of the lake
With every step I hear it
A bubbling of water
A rush of anxiety
The water rises to greet me
"Welcome back"
It rises and swallows the dock
One
Two
Three inches of water
I know this place
Where I wet my feet
Splish
Splash
Splish
Splash
Almost there now
Water is all around me
Already swallowing my steps
Will it swallow me whole this time?
Here
I am at the end
But dare I look into the deep again?
Dare I stare down there
Where the light does not penetrate?
But I must
I cannot breathe for the water about my ankles
My lungs are choked
Strangled by an anxious rope
Look
Down here
Look
Over the edge
LOOK
I'm here
LOOK
You are here
LOOK, DAMN YOU
I teeter forward ever so cautiously
A gasp releases bubbles towards the surface
As I peer out from under the dock
Staring up
Looking out
I'm drowning
No! I'm on the surface!
Drowning
The water leeches my air
Suffocating in the dark
Why am I drowning again?
The dock
The water
The deep calls to me
Must I drown to answer that call?