She could feel his eyes on her and it gave her the incentive she needed to keep going. With a less strict teacher she might have given up to the tiredness in her limbs by now, given up for the day and went back to the beach.

But he was not someone who rested and she doubted he would approve if she gave up. He might not say anything, but the disapproval would be there nonetheless.

Eventually she could float relatively well, the odd wave still took her by surprise but she could keep her head above water. Her limbs ached and she felt like she could eat a whole giant crab to herself but she waded over to him with a small smile. She knew she was not done yet, she couldn't actually make herself go anywhere in the water. As important as not drowning was, it wasn't swimming.