Truth is, I hate the water.

TLDR: Hallmark love blooms over a swimming pool.

All his life, Victor was afraid of swimming. Fell in a swimming pool when he was a child, he truly believes he died that day and had been walking the Earth a water filled zombie. Just the mere thought of entering a pool would make his stomach churn sideways.

He was mocked, ridiculed, humiliated for such a "silly fear of getting wet", he feared what would happen if the true reason to his fear came out. That people would try to drown him, he thought of just never being around one again, no one could stop him. He'd never see a body of water again for the rest of his life!

But his bullies' words gnawed at him, "What if it is just a silly fear?" He'd ask himself.

When it was late into the night, he'd find his way to the local pool and would try to test the waters. See if he could conquer such a fear, he'd put his hand millimeters above the water, he'd recoil harshly at the touch to the point he'd almost fall in himself.

"Never seen a pool before?" A voice came from behind him, he turned and looked at them. A tall lady there stood, long raven hair down to her shoulders. In stark contrast to the neck length hair the blonde Victor had.

"Pray tell, why are you here so late? It's two in the morning." - "I could ask you the same." He chuckled, standing up to greet her. "I'm Victor." He held his hand out, "Elizabeth," as she shook it, "I uh...I come here, admire the water." He lied through his teeth, "And what's so special about this one?" She tilted her head.

"Oh nothing, just, rectangular." - "Rectangular?" She straightened her head, "Yeah, I like rectangles." It was a half truth, he preferred squares. "Mhm. I like the water too." She said, "You know how to swim?" He shook his head, "Real shame. I come here to swim all the time."

And after that day, Victor felt a little warmth in his heart. Maybe it was because she didn't know of his fear, or maybe it was because she was kind to him. A rarity in his life.

Victor, once a night for the next month, would frequent the pool. He'd talk with Elizabeth, she'd sit by him or stand in the shallow end. He never saw her swim funnily enough, but he figured it'd be hard to converse underwater.

"Elizabeth," He said one night, "Do you think love could bloom even in the place you feared most?" She thought for a minute, "Of course! Many soldiers dread the battlefield, yet sometimes they'd find true love there." - "And yet they still die in battle." She frowned, "Don't be so bleak."

This night was different, he found himself in swimming trunks instead of the usual hoodie and pants he'd wear. "Finally wanting to swim?" He thought about it, watched Elizabeth as she stood next to him in her own swim gear.

"Elizabeth," He could feel the words swell up in his throat, "Yes, Victor?" He felt conflicted, "Elizabeth...I'm in love with you." She stood there, processing it before her eyes widened. "I'm afraid of the water. I dread it, and yet in these most recent days I found myself thinking of the pool not of fear, but of you." She cut him off, "I like you too, Victor. Wanna join me in the water?" Her tone was soft.

He stood up, stretched and stared at the water. His stomach churned, he felt like gagging. Elizabeth looked at him, the fear in his eyes as he swallowed his fear down his throat and jumped directly in the pool.

Victor had a feeling of regret in his mind, "What if this was a mistake?" He thought, but he was doing it for true love! He shook his head, washing the fear away as he resurfaced. Elizabeth right next to him.

"Is this your battlefield?" She asked him, he nodded, "I get that..." She swam closer to him, "If I'm being honest...I don't know how to swim well, either." He blinked, "I've never been in the deep end. Only the shallow part."

She chuckled, he chuckled too. The two laughing as they swam slowly through the pool, they made sure neither one had a chance of drowned throughout it all. With the pale moonlight shone onto the water, lighting the pool with serenity and grace.