It was panic, fear and more panic. Her hair floated upward and her skin started to turn pale as the sunlight started to fade further away. Her tired legs struggled hard to bring her back to the sun-speckled surface. It was loud and splashy at first and then it was all quiet. My niece was drowning.

A few feet away my daughter, was also struggling with the tide. They were both caught in that strong current and even though I knew that my teenage daughter was a competitive swimmer, I could see that she was no longer able to hold her breath, the cold water splashing and rushing down her throat obliterating all illusions of survival.

I jumped into the rippling currents, not able to decide whom to save first.

My daughter saved her cousin, as an hour later, we lay on the beach reminiscing that divine life moment.