The hot shower water beat down on my shoulders, steam clouding my view as I closed my eyes and ran a hand through my hair.

‘Maybe you could teach me sometime?’

When he asked that earlier, my reaction was the same flustered confusion I seem to be unable to avoid every time I’m around him. I’d managed to respond in what I hoped was a passably normal and casual way, and we’d agreed to set up a time and place for the ‘lessons’ at the gallery tomorrow morning.

Why do I lose all rationality whenever he’s near? I don’t even know him, we just met. This is insane.

An idea bloomed in my mind.

I don’t even know him…

That was it. I’d get to know him through kayaking lessons and I’d shake this childish infatuation once and for all.

Maybe… maybe I am bisexual. Either way it’s just ridiculous to be this obsessed with someone I don’t even know.

Turning off the water, I grabbed my towel and scrubbed at my hair, absentmindedly considering that it was getting pretty long. I should probably try to convince Claire to trim it back for me again before it starts getting in the way at work. After I finished drying off, I turned off the light in the shower, made my way to my bed, and fell almost immediately into sleep.

***

I had a dream, which was not all a dream.

The bright sun was extinguish’d, and the stars

Did wander darkling in the eternal space,

Rayless, and pathless, and the icy earth

Swung blind and blackening in the moonless air

- Darkness by Lord Byron

My eyes opened to find pitch deep black surrounding me. After a time, maybe seconds, maybe hours, a pale green light appeared above me. I came to be aware of the feeling of being submerged, weightless, and kicked hard towards the light. It drew closer as I pushed against the black, inky depths, and began to surround me, gaining tones of bright and vibrant blue.

My head broke the surface and I gasped deeply for breath. Two bright red kayaks bobbed pleasantly nearby.

That’s right… we were…

I opened my mouth to call out when a wave hit. The icy sea water felt like a punch to the face, and I felt myself once again sinking back into the deep, cold, darkness.