After shutting off the engine, I just sat in the car. It had been so long since I was here. After a few minutes of letting it soak in, I finally opened the door. The air was warm and dry, typical weather for the end of July. I took my sunglasses off to leave them in the car, but I immediately put them back on. I shut my door and pressed the lock button, three times, just in case.

By the time I stepped into the air conditioned lobby, I was almost sweating. Even though it was nearly four in the afternoon, the sun still beat down like it was only noon.

The lady at the front desk looked up when I came in, "Alex? Is that you?"

I smiled a bit, "Yeah, it's me."

"It's been so long! Where have you been? You didn't switch teams did you?"

I smiled, although I had never learned her name, not that I would remember it if I had, she still remained one of my favorites to see at the pool, she always had something nice to say when I walked in. "I've just been at home. I would never switch teams."

"I didn't think you would, that's wouldn't be like you."

I leaned against the high counter which rose to her head height, my hand placed on the edge of the lower counter that she sat behind. "I don't think I would ever adjust, this place is my second home. Plus, the other pool makes me sick anyway."

"Sick, really? I know it's not very well kept, and old, but to make you sick? That's just weird."

"Yeah, it has always puzzled me. But, every time I go, I always leave with a runny nose."

"That's terrible!" She paused for a moment, "Well, I better not keep you, I'm sure you're here for a reason, I wouldn't want you to be late to whatever you came for."

"Thanks," I glanced at the clock, "I guess I should be getting on deck, practice is almost over." I waved and left, looping around the desk to the doors that led onto the deck.

When I opened the door, I was immediately met with the warm, humid air of the deck. A smile immediately filled my face as I breathed in the air, until I remembered why I left, then I went back to my normal state: lost and depressed. I quickly scanned the deck and located my coach. He saw me at the same time I saw him, I could tell he was smiling. I couldn't help but smile a bit too. I hadn't seen or talked to him in two months; it was hard not seeing him every day.

"Been a long time Alex."

"Yeah, it has."

"It's been quieter without you here."

"Really? I wasn't that loud was I?"

He laughed, "Not really."

My team started showing up at the wall from the set they had just finished. "Alex! You're here!" cried out Allison, one of my best friends and top competitor.

I smiled a bit, "Yeah, I am here. I'm not swimming though."

"Obviously, practice is over."

Coach Will laughed, "200 easy and you can get out." He turned to me, "Now, let's head to the coach's room and talk." He left the team cooling down and headed to the coach's room. He stopped to talk to a coach I didn't know. "Lyssa, can you keep an eye on my group, they are just cooling down."

"Sure! Who's this?" She was slightly shorter than me, but seemed to be older, possibly her late thirties.

"This is Alex, she's been on hiatus the past couple months."

"This is Alex?" She turned to me, "Nice to meet you Alex! I'm Coach Lyssa." Suddenly I recognized her from the rival team.

"You too," I smiled.

"Well, she's here for a meeting, so we'd better go," said Coach Will leading me away.

"Of course," she said turning back to her team, "Have a good meeting."

Coach Will opened the door for me," Just take a seat somewhere.

I stepped in and sat down on one of the two office chairs. Coach Will came in and sat down in the other.

"So, how have you been?"

"Fairly well."

"That's good. Now, I guess I shouldn't delay this any longer. You know why I had you come today, right?"

"Yes," I looked down at my hands in my lap.

"Alex, it's not your fault."

"Yes it is. She would have still been here if it wasn't for me."

"It was a mistake. Mistakes happen."

"Mistakes don't take lives."

"Yes they do. Every day mistakes take lives. It's part of life."

"But it was my mistake, so it's my fault."

"Mistakes are never anyone's fault and it's not yours. It's a misfortune, but it's not your fault."

I felt my phone buzz in my pocket. The only reason I still carried it was so my mom could get ahold of me if she needed to.

"Alex, I know I'm just repeating myself, but it's not your fault. Look at me Alex. It's not your fault. You need to overcome your fear and let it go. Look, I'm only trying to help you. Do you still want to make the Olympic team?"

I looked up at him. The Olympic team had been my dream for years. Winning at Pan Pacs last summer, meant I was really close. "Yes, but I don't think it's going to work."

"Why won't it work?"

"I've been out for two months and I'm not sure I can handle ever getting in the water again."

"Alex, you can still do it. I know you can do it. Trust me."

I shook my head, looking into my lap again.

"Well, until you feel like getting in the water again, I would like you to coach my daughter and do some cross training. How does that sound?"

"I guess I can do that."

"Then, when you think you can get in again, just let me know and we can get back to work. Until then, you don't even have to touch the water."

"That sounds good. I can do that."

"So, can you come every day around this time?"

"Sure."

"That sounds perfect. Now, before you go, I want to say one more thing: It's not your fault, but confidence comes after the fear. The only way to get rid of that fear is to hold your breath and go."

I looked up at him. Hold your breath and go.

"Now, I'll see you tomorrow." He stood up. "I need to get out to my next group. They are supposed to be getting in the water."

I gave him a weak smile and got up, heading out the opposite door to the lobby and straight to my car.

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A/N:

I want to thank my coach Coach Jason for helping me by giving me a coaches point of veiw on the topic and what a coach would say after what happened to Alex.

I also want to thank Chocolov3r for the typography on the side. It is amazing.

Also, this novel is no longer for NaNoWriMo, so I am going to be writing more of it along with Burning Bright.

Thanks for reading! Don't forget to let me know what you think.

QOTC (Question of the Chapter): What would you say if you were Coach Will?