A LIGHT VEIL – 2

Sixty seconds

One minute. Sixty consecutive seconds. I counted, it’s the maximum time I can spend underwater. Even if they’re trained, lungs reclaim air, at a certain point. That’s how silence breaks out and turns into a noisy emersion.

Actually, this swimming pool is named ‘The Bomb’, what else could I expect? Water aerobics coaches try to coordinate the moves of a group of people, with music pumping up. As I get close to the poolside, I focus on families: mothers and fathers of all ages trying to reach out for their kids, not so much convinced to use sunscreen.

After getting out of the water I walk towards my beach towel, creating a space on the ground that nobody can cross! Sharp sidelines, diagonal red and blue motifs declaring a grouchy soul. A self-portrait, after all. After getting my body dry, I start searching for my most precious accessories, the earphones I use to isolate from everyone and everything. I rummage through my bag, I check all the side pockets, but at a certain moment I have to accept the ugly truth: I forgot them on the bedside table.

So what? I look around with a sense of uncertainty. Where can I go? What am I gonna do? ‘Are these yours?’ he asks, giving me back the earphones I thought I left in my bedroom. ‘I found them a little away from here and since I know kinda everybody in here, I thought they could belong to someone I hadn’t seen yet. To you, in conclusion’. He’s a little young to be a lifeguard, but he’s kind. His skin is burst by the sun and his eyes are olive-colored.

‘Yes, they’e mine. Thank you’ I answer in a rush, maybe a little rude also. He feels my bashfulness, he makes two steps behind. ‘ ‘Well, I usually sit up there, you know where to find me. Bye!’.

My fingers play with my mint-colored earphones, while I think that now I can finally listen to music. Anyway, I also think about how melodic the lifeguard’s voice sounded, as I watch him go away.

We cannot isolate all the time. I can listen to my music at home. I hold my breath for a minute. Sixty seconds. When they’re over I will open them again, I will move away from this towel and go ask him if he can stay with me for an ice cream.