Adrian had never swam in his life, neither in his past nor his current one. The water was a foreign world to him, its pull and flow unfamiliar.
Yet, as he plunged into the river, he didn't face any challenges staying afloat.
At first, he flailed, his arms slicing through the water awkwardly, his legs kicking too hard. The current tugged at him, and for a moment, panic flickered in his chest.
But his body adapted quickly and he found a rhythm, letting the water carry him as he learned to move with it. Soon, he allowed himself to stay in it for a while, floating on his back, the warm water cradling him like a gentle hand.
He had already taken off his clothes and occasionally, he let himself sink deeper into the water, feeling it close over his head, cool and heavy.
The sensation was strange but calming, a rare moment of peace in his relentless pursuit of progress.
