I knew I couldn’t hold my breath much longer. My lungs were desperate for air, and already I could feel my mouth wanting to open, even though that would be a fatal move. The net tightened, crushing me against the trapped fish. Fins and prickly scales scored my face and hands like tiny razors. I struggled, panicked and frantic, feeling like my lungs were going to explode. Pull it up! I begged the fishing boat silently. Please pull the net up! Don’t let me drown down here! The pressure was unbearable. A ringing in my ears built into a crushing surge. My panic escalated. This is it! The pressure shifted as a sudden lurching, swinging motion moved us through the water. The net was lifting! If I could just hold on a few seconds longer! But my lungs suddenly convulsed out of my control, and I gulped … air! Wonderful, life-saving air! The net had broken through the surface of the dark sea, and a huge inhalation of oxygen rushed down my throat.
