Leaving the Shallow End

"You're late. Jump in." My 8th-grade teacher pointed to the deep end of the swimming pool. I opened my mouth to speak, but the words became lost in fear. Clutching the towel around my awkward, shivering body, I walked to the edge of the pool and scanned its co-ed contents, looking for a friendly face. Surely, someone would come to my rescue and invite me to join them in the shallow end…