the air felt suffocating. it stuck to my glistening skin and infected my pores without permission. my feet swam in pools of sweat as i trudged through grass up to my knees. i found myself constantly bending down to itch at the uncomfortable blades that sliced my skin. as i made my way closer to the creek, i could hear battle between rock and water. the air felt a bit lighter finally, yet a heaviness remained in my chest. down stream, i could see a trail of countless pieces of clothing, their true colors hardly visible. all of them coated in a deep red. the same shade as my palms before me.