The water is cold in the early summer in Long Island, NY. I shiver as I wade up to my belly. In one quick movement I dive in, touch the sandy ocean bottom and come up. I turn over on my back and begin swimming. As my arms circle backwards ripples of water wash over my bare breasts. A sea breeze chills me, sending gooseflesh over my legs and hardening my nipples. I look up and see the stars of the evening sky are slightly obscured by wispy grey clouds. The moon, however, is full and sheds highlights on the water. I swim more vigorously and then stop, about 150 yards out, to catch my breath before heading back. I stop my backstroke and lie still, floating, feeling warm from the swim. The depth of the water below me is probably a little over 40 feet. I let my legs drop deeper and I start to tread water. My left calf has begun to knot up so I kick harder with it to shake it out. I pause my lopsided tread and as I do I feel a disturbance in the water farther out from me as if a small boat was passing by silently under water. A tingle runs up my spine and I turn to look towards the beach, paddling my arms softly, keeping my legs still. I feel the strange movement of the water again. I also feel my throat tighten and a wave of fear. Suddenly I feel very alone so far from the shore. I can see the lights I left on in my seaside home and I am very anxious to get back. I roll on my belly and begin a fast crawl stroke. I pound the water with my right leg, occasionally kicking with my left. I feel a force start to descend upon me and the feeling of panic that overwhelms me disrupts my stroke causing me to inhale a lungful of water. As I cough and turn on my back I see the force. It is a great white shark. With his fin above the water he is swimming about ten feet away alongside me. He is huge and breathtaking, about 15 feet long, probably weighing several tons. I gasp in awe and feel such exhilaration at this sight that my panic is covered up. The shark makes a sudden turn towards me and his upper jaw and snout rise out of the water revealing gleaming white teeth. I can see the pink of his gums and the shadows deep inside him. I moan at the excitement of the moment. The shark's lifeless eyes stare at me. He is huge, strong and unstoppable, a perfect killing machine that hasn't changed in the tens of thousands of years it has existed. He is an unfeeling predator and he is so close to me. I moan again louder purely from the thrill I am feeling. My stomach is light with butterflies. The side of my torso facing him tingles with anticipation and vulnerability. I cry out as his teeth close over me. The instant before he bites the sensation in my side reaches a peak of almost pleasurable sensation. I start gasping so hard that I can't breath. Then there is pressure and I feel a stab of pain. His teeth sink into me making an arc from the top of my right armpit, between my breasts, over my belly and down to the top of my thigh. I scream in a frightened euphoria. This is the climax to an event so frightening and rare I feel immense appreciation to be experiencing it. This is more thrilling than the steepest roller coaster imaginable or the most shocking, intriguing horror film. I scream again as his teeth sink deeper. Tears run down my cheeks though I can't feel a thing. A flash of sanity, however, cuts through my excitement and reminds me of my mortality. Without thinking my right hand clenches in a fist which I plunge into the shark's eye. My hand goes through the white membrane of attack and hits the soft sensitive lens. The shark's grip is released. I punch again and again until the shark turns his body away pushing me several feet from him. I lie still and see the shark's fin disappear into the dark waters. I am dizzy and numb. I try to concentrate on staying afloat. I am paralyzed. After several tense minutes, with only the sound of the waves around me, I begin to move. My right leg hangs limp. I no longer feel the cramp as I force my left to kick softly. I turn on my left side and paddle with my left arm. I struggle to keep my mouth and nose out of the water. My mind begins to drift away as my body goes into shock. My face hits the water and instantly my survival instinct picks it up. I can taste salty, bloody water. I start to lose consciousness several times before I finally reach the shore. The waves push me onto the sand and I drag myself a few feet before my arm buckles. I look down at my bleeding torso and see my flesh torn in ragged slits, white ribs showing through in places. The sand feels like razors on my mangled back. I become very aware of my breathing. I sigh softly and let my mind go. My blood spreads around me on the sand. -Alison.