Like a body of water. From a little stream, to a coursing river, I swam against the current in fear of losing myself in the vast sea.

It's beginning to be a routine, this swimming-against-the-current thing. Some nights I find myself breaking down, shrunken and weak; getting swept by the strong current. And I wish that I was well-equipped and prepared; only I never learned. I've always been convinced that I am strong enough to keep my stance; that no matter how hard the wind blows and how strong the water pushes, I will still be standing on the exact same spot, rough, steady & unshaken... But I thought wrong.

I keep slipping, crashing onto the river banks and into large rocks. I've been crushed most times and I'm sure to have lost bits and pieces of me along the way. Life vests, rafts, paddles, boats -I wish I had those in hand, but I didn't. Because I was stubborn. Because I was proud. Because I was being stupid. Because I thought I was big and sturdy. Because I've been through rougher bodies of water -or so I thought. Little did I know that there were even rougher ones -no, I knew there were rougher ones; I just refused to recognize its existence.

So I find myself being dragged by the current, whipping and crashing from side-to-side, getting crushed by the minute. And yet, I still strive to fight and swim against the flow. It's a difficult task. It's a painful task. However, sometimes, I guess I have to just let loose and lose myself in this rough river ride, because as painful as it is, in due time, I will find myself a smooth, polished and shiny stone -just like those sitting at the end of the river: shining and glimmering under the beautiful, warm sun.