Smelling Salts

The temperature of the water took her skin by surprise, causing her leg hairs to jut out immediately, as though attempting to retreat from her body to the safety of the bathtub’s rim. Her skin began to tingle uncomfortably, a mix of pain and pleasure, with pleasure eventually beating out pain. Much like removing a band-aid that has been attached for more than a day, it was easiest to just submerge your whole body at once as opposed to slowly crouching into the water, allowing inch by inch of skin to get used to the water’s temperature. In fact, if she had learned anything in her 17 years, Ashley knew everything in life was much easier if you just ripped the band-aid off quickly instead of trying to ease it off bit by bit. The sticky stuff always grabbed a hold of your tiny arm hairs and held onto them for dear life as some type of memento, or the current going rate for healing. Best to try and beat it at its own game.

She leaned back against the porcelain tub, scooting her butt further down towards the bottom until her ears were submerged in the water. The tips of her mouth crept upwards into a slight smile, as she envisioned Ahab and his crew, searching the seas for his whale. Her mind flashed back to Tuesday, to her brief moment of triumph in Gimlet’s class. Spencer had to have been impressed…Spencer. Spencer. Spencer. Spencer. Spencer… Recneps. Recneps. Recneps. Recneps. Recneps…

Ashley sucked in as much air as her lungs could hold and allowed her butt to scoot forward rapidly, submerging her entire head under water. This was one of her favorite games. To see how long she could hold her breath. Okay, it sounded fairly juvenile, but there’s more to it. She must finish the story in her head before she will reward her lungs with oxygen.

Her head rested against the tub’s bottom, bobbing slightly side to side, controlled by the faint vibrations in the water. Her right hand slid down her abdomen, a finger dipping into her tiny belly button, causing a short detour on her hand’s journey. She rests the tips of her fingers between her legs, subtly allowing the friction against her lips to control the pace of her fantasy.