Thunder Pool Party

Marcus stood at the edge of Jen's backyard pool, clutching his phone like a lifeline. Everyone else was already in the water, splashing and laughing like they hadn't a care in the world. The pool lights made the blue water glow like something alien and beautiful, but Marcus's stomach churned.

"Yo Marcus, you coming in or what?" Tyler yelled, doing a cannonball that sent water everywhere. "Don't be such a wuss."

Marcus's phone buzzed. His mom had texted him five times since he'd arrived. *Storm coming. Stay safe. Love you.* Typical.

He wasn't afraid of the water. He was afraid of taking his shirt off, of everyone seeing the scars on his back from the surgery last year. The ones that still made him look like a map of roads less traveled.

"I'm good," Marcus mumbled, but Jen swam over to the edge.

"Hey," she said, treading water effortlessly. "You okay?"

Before he could answer, the sky cracked open. Lightning - brilliant and terrifying - split the sky above them, followed immediately by thunder that shook the ground. Someone screamed. Everyone scrambled out of the pool.

"Storm's here!" someone shouted.

But Marcus stood frozen, watching Jen. She wasn't getting out. She was floating on her back, looking up at the stormy sky like it was the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen.

"Come here," she said, gesturing to him. "Quick. Before everyone notices."

Something in her voice made him move. He pulled off his shirt - heart pounding - and dove in. The water was cool and perfect. He swam to her side, and for a moment, it was just the two of them, treading water as lightning painted the sky purple and white.

"The scars from surgery," she said softly. "I have them too. On my stomach." She smiled. "They're battle scars. Nothing to be ashamed of."

Marcus felt something loosen in his chest. Another flash of lightning, closer this time, and they both laughed, swimming toward the edge as rain started to fall.

"Next time," Jen whispered as they climbed out, "you don't have to wait for a storm to jump in."

Marcus pulled his shirt back on, watching the rain turn the pool surface into a thousand dancing diamonds. For the first time in a year, he felt like maybe he was finally swimming back to himself.