“Swim with me, Maggie-Pie.” Fighting to keep her nose above the inky waves, Margaret paddled with all her might towards the voice that held her heart.

“Mama,” she sputtered as water surged into her mouth. Straining, she pulled through the choppy current and called again, “Mama wait for me, not so fast.” Stop whining, she gritted her teeth and forced her tired arms and legs to keep propelling her through the water. In the distance, she could see her mama’s head above the dark breakers.But how? There was no moon in the sky. Margaret stopped pushing forward to tread water. Her clothes were waterlogged, heavy and cold from the late spring chill of the inlet they were swimming and pulled at her body. There on the bank, Margaret spied two torches burning, lighting the way. Arms and legs numb from exhaustion, she pushed herself on, swimming towards the dim outline of her mama’s head and the bright lights.Bright lights, cold nights, dark frights…her mind started a singsong chant to push the dark and exhaustion away. Why did mama get her from bed to go swimming? Father would be so mad. Water plugged her nose and she floundered, thinking about how angry he had become when he discovered she’d learned to swim. “We’re going away, sweet pea,” the words had been whispered in her ear as sleep tried to keep her snugly in bed. “We’re going to take a boat and ride the sea of winds,” The words had sounded like a lullaby. Margaret was so tired. Mama kept getting farther away. Why couldn’t she wait? “Come on now,” even mama’s voice sounded strained, “almost there, go to the lights, baby, go to the lights.”Her world narrowed to the orange-red burning orbs. Tread water. Paddle and swim. Stop and cough. Tread water. Her body moved of its own volition but her eyes never left the burning torches as they danced before her, always just out of reach.

Too much, she sighed and slid beneath the water, felt it surge up her nose but she couldn’t blow out anymore. Even then, she had hope. Come for me mama, she willed, lifting her hands to the receding glow of fiery eyes. Come for me.