I saw a kid nearly drown today
Took my dog to the local dog park that sits right beside a river. After a late afternoon of running around, I decided to spend some time at the river with them to cool off. It's a popular spot in the middle of the city, so there's people all along the bank doing the same or just enjoying the water.
Not long after, a kid on the opposite bank of the river steps into the deep end of the river and starts having trouble keeping his head above water. Seeing how powerful the current of the river was that day, there's no doubt he would've been carried away at this point.
Acting on this, I waded into the river deep enough to get my knees wet as the current starts taking him. Almost instantly his mom and his sister start shouting his name and shrieking in panic. Two unrelated strangers jump into water to chase after his rapidly disappearing body,
By this point, my shorts were soaked - from the river, if you must know - and one of the men closed in on him before he was swept away. Fortunately, the kid was pulled out rather quickly and returned to his family - while quite emotionally traumatized - physically unharmed. But all the while this was going on, his mother and sister - his very own family, just stood on the bank shrieking like harpies.
Part of me understands that it is an emotionally gut-wrenching impulse to feel completely overwhelmed by the thought of your loved one dying. It's the most human thing you can probably feel. But the other part of me completely despises this woman, his mother, for standing by and doing nothing while complete strangers had to save your child for you.
I mean, I can understand "all's well that ends well". Still, part of me can't forgive this woman for abandoning her sole responsibility as a mother. To stand by so completely inept as her son is on the precipice of death. That it took two men with nothing to gain to act in her place while her emotional response took priority over his physical existence.
It was like I was watching my own mother again. I hate how much this woman has impacted my life, even now 15 years after leaving her behind. I feel like I was never able to gain an identity because so much of existence was dependent on making you less miserable. Now I couldn't care less about you, but that void you created has still been my burden to fill.
F*ck it. This wound is not worth opening any further. I just had to get this off my chest.
TLDR: The kid is fine. For now at least
Not long after, a kid on the opposite bank of the river steps into the deep end of the river and starts having trouble keeping his head above water. Seeing how powerful the current of the river was that day, there's no doubt he would've been carried away at this point.
Acting on this, I waded into the river deep enough to get my knees wet as the current starts taking him. Almost instantly his mom and his sister start shouting his name and shrieking in panic. Two unrelated strangers jump into water to chase after his rapidly disappearing body,
By this point, my shorts were soaked - from the river, if you must know - and one of the men closed in on him before he was swept away. Fortunately, the kid was pulled out rather quickly and returned to his family - while quite emotionally traumatized - physically unharmed. But all the while this was going on, his mother and sister - his very own family, just stood on the bank shrieking like harpies.
Part of me understands that it is an emotionally gut-wrenching impulse to feel completely overwhelmed by the thought of your loved one dying. It's the most human thing you can probably feel. But the other part of me completely despises this woman, his mother, for standing by and doing nothing while complete strangers had to save your child for you.
I mean, I can understand "all's well that ends well". Still, part of me can't forgive this woman for abandoning her sole responsibility as a mother. To stand by so completely inept as her son is on the precipice of death. That it took two men with nothing to gain to act in her place while her emotional response took priority over his physical existence.
It was like I was watching my own mother again. I hate how much this woman has impacted my life, even now 15 years after leaving her behind. I feel like I was never able to gain an identity because so much of existence was dependent on making you less miserable. Now I couldn't care less about you, but that void you created has still been my burden to fill.
F*ck it. This wound is not worth opening any further. I just had to get this off my chest.
TLDR: The kid is fine. For now at least
31-35, M
