title: the A B Sea of Drowning
author: Ashley Dorian Bolch
description: Born 1950 Paddington London.Educated Maidstone College of Art. 1983 First one-man show at The Battersea Arts Center, London. 1986 L.C.A published 'The Post Mill'
zlib_text: 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  1
  
  
  It was happening again. Unbelievably, it was happening again.
  
  
  A woman was drowning. Not the dreaded leader of an alien force. Just a woman.
  Alone in a roiling sea. Defenseless. Vulnerable.
  
  
  My mother.
  
  
  There was no way I could let it happen again.
  
  
  I powered toward her. My arms strained with each stroke. My legs kicked
  wildly.
  
  
  Hold on. Hold on!
  
  
  So close. Close enough to see her straining to keep her head above the cold
  black water.
  
  
  Then I was on her, one arm around her shoulders, the other paddling madly to
  keep us afloat.
  
  
  "Hold on!" I cried. "I've got you!"
  
  
  2 She looked up at me, wet hair plastering her face. Then she spoke.
  
  
  "Thank you, Marco."
  
  
  "Mom . . ."
  
  
  "I'm free, Marco. I'm free!"
  
  
  And then a powerful current swept her out of my grasp and sucked her under the
  glittering surface of the midnight ocean.
  
  
  "No! No, no, no!"
  
  
  I dove. The salt stung my eyes. I pushed deeper and deeper into the darkness.
  My lungs ached but I would not allow it