I think I was 8 or 9. I was a nervous kid and it was very difficult for me to relax around other humans. I took swimming lessons (which i failed miserably) and during these we were asked to hold our breath and stay under.
This was an amazing experience for me. Complete peace and lucidity - no idea how long I was under but the instructor yanked me out.
I immediately applied my newfound power. A bully terrorized our local beach - much feared for holding kids under water. I sought him out and somehow got him to attack. Upon being shoved under I struggled convincingly for a few seconds, then blew out most of my air and went limp. I remember feeling really sorry for that kid - he was horrified and almost crying as he dragged me out onto the beach.
Next was a dive into the deepest, darkest place I could find in a local river. I remember how the stones on the bottom looked in the tannin-hued water - the huge yet oddly welcoming silloutte's of carp - first flashing by, then returning to circle...
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