Summer Paradise

It was the first month of summer, and we had just flown to Turkey. It was the perfect afternoon―the sun shining, a slight warm breeze, and not a cloud in the sky. I thought it was the perfect time for a swim, while others thought it was a great time to relax by the poolside. I jumped into the pool, letting the crystal clear water surround me. In the meantime, my father and uncle were enjoying a bottle of wine by the poolside. I was living in a summer paradise. Then, a single cloud came and covered the sun, spoiling the perfect picture.

I decided to get out of the pool as the lack of sun caused the weather to become rather chilly. As I was getting out I did not notice that my uncle had placed his wine glass on the deck, but it was too late. I felt something against my shin, and watched as the the glass shattered to the floor. The next few minutes were a blur. I felt no pain, but I could feel something dripping down my leg rapidly. I saw people run towards me: my mom, dad, and grandmother. There were others but I could not make them out because the world was swimming in and out of focus. Someone wrapped a blanket around my leg, the only astringent they could find, and took me to the car. The pain started to kick in and the dizziness got worse. Soon the blanket was soaked in red.

We got to the hospital and I was wheeled to the emergency room. The doctor got a numbing needle the size of small football, and forced it in my leg. The pain slowly began to subside as my leg became numb, and the world finally came into focus again. After the doctor was done I had 30 stitches in my leg, and was inept at walking. Once we got home, I limped to the couch with help from my dad, and my family tried to commiserate about the accident. It was not effective; my summer was ruined. The sun was no longer shining, the warm breeze gone, and the sky dotted with clouds. Summer paradise was long gone.

~ Evrim O.