Downstream

particularly dangerous. The
beach is covered in grainy
beige sand, on which
someone has drawn a love
heart, dotted with rocks,
stones, shells and a piece of
broken glass, while in the
water bobs a deflated
football. I decide to paddle as
children used to do, take off
my sandals and roll up my
jeans, even though the water
is swirling shades of brown
and I can’t see the bottom. It