“It’s safe,” dad said as he trudged on over to fishing flags—

a polar plunge was never on my bucket list..

Clear, thick ice was the only thing that protected me from the preemptively forbidden cold, yet I followed.

I could hear the ice crunch after each step from my clunky boots, and yet I still followed.

Moments passed and my heart raced, is it really safe? I thought, but I still followed.

Almost there.. fear almost gone—

but one step is all it takes to realize your fate is sealed. My protection—

the ice breaks and the feeling of frozen waters take contol.

Why did I follow? Where is my dad? Will anyone save me?

I start to stiffen, the fight to the surface is getting harder.

I drown..

the world around me goes black.

Seven minutes.

In a haze, sirens flash the colors of my fingers—

red, blue, purple.

I’m safe.