Many girls inadvertently get caught in rip-tides as they enter the water where there is no obvious danger. Although, with hindsight, the red flags were there.
Rip-tides can quickly sweep you off your feet with sudden streams of love. Very quickly a girl can find herself out of her depth.
Rip-tides are difficult to spot but can be identified by debris floating on the sea’s surface; kids he doesn’t see, an intense fury towards his ex, a flood of failed relationships.
Rip-tides carry girls out beyond the breaking waves, past family and friends. Suddenly,
you’re far from the shore, just you and the rip-tide.
Initially, girls may try to swim against the rip-tide, but soon become exhausted, and realise it’s easier to comply with the current. Challenging a rip-tide can lead to drowning, but so can staying out at sea.
To survive a rip-tide, swim parallel to the beach, and please call for help. Please remember, no matter how strong the rip-tide is, girls are stronger. Many girls have freed themselves from a rip-tide and swum back to shore, where their sisters wait for them with towels, tea and empathy.
*can apply to boys too
Fiona Dignan started writing during lockdown to cope with the chaos of home-schooling four children. Last year, she won The London Society Poetry Prize and The Plaza Prize for Sudden Fiction. She was a finalist in the LISP poetry competition and is Puschcart Prize Nominated.
This story won first prize in the April 24 Monthly Micro competition. It also won The People’s Prize.
Brilliant!
I often refer to myself as being caught in a riptide. You’ve captured it beautifully