I'm sitting in the back of the sweaty-drenched bus, and the temperature is rising. The sweat drips from my forehead as I feel the inside of my cotton-mouthed tongue crack. I rummage through my bookbag which is nearly exploding with books, pencils, and folders. Searching, I finally see the lead-grey handle of my bottle. I ferociously try to rip my bottle from the pocket of my book bag. To my dismay, the bottle was totally vacant. Not a single droplet was in sight. The only thing I could feel was disappointment, alongside the pain in my mouth. I sit for the last (agonizing) 15 minutes of the bus ride hoping my stop is next. Finally, I think to myself as I see my house in view. I race off and feel the wind brush against my face and neck as I sprint to the steps. I find my way to the door of my house and propel the door forward with as much force as I could--without breaking it. As my feet slide against my waxy, dark brown stained floor, I unscrew my bottle as rapidly as possible. The water splashed around in my bottle as the relief on my body was visibly steaming off. I took a sip. My mouth watered literally and physically. Water is super important for your health; It is a calming drink, that is good for your heart, good for your body, and good for your mind. 

I open my eyes as the bright white light shines through my window. As if I wasn’t hot enough, I check my phone, and the temperature read 98°F. Looks like it's an indoor, sit by the fan for six hours and eat melted ice cream kind of day, I think to myself. I was pretty much alone, as long as you don’t count the whiney 7-year-old I have to take care of for three hours until my parents get home. Knock, knock. Time to get up, he must be hungry.  I swing open my door, but instead of a tiny four-foot boy, it is my ginormous dad sitting three inches from my face. He is tall and wide. He looks, to me, like he belongs in a horror story. Other people say he's not intimidating, but I straighten my posture a little bit when he comes around. However, he is the most enormous marshmallow I know. He likes romance & Disney movies, he wants to cook food and get praised for it, he cares (a little too much) for his dog, and he screams when a breakup song comes on. I won't let that trick me, he is most definitely the scariest-looking "girly" I have ever met. Startled, I spring back, however, I burst out laughing from my reaction. “It’s too hot, want to go for a boat ride?” says my father. I smiled from ear to ear just thinking about how nice it would be to sink myself into the deep-cooler waters of Lake Erie. The water slashes around, making clashing and banging noises every second, I felt my heart racing. All I could see is the shiny white reflectiveness of the boat, as well as the navy blue, baby blue, and forest greenish blue colors in the water. The water reaches the horizon, meanwhile, the sun’s fury sinks deep into my skin. Reluctantly, everyone races to get the first one with a bathing suit and be out the door. We waste no time getting to a good spot to anchor down. I'm the first one to leap in, and as soon as I hit the water I am completely comforted by the crisp-chilled feeling. There isn’t a finer feeling in the world. Not many people realize the importance water has on our lives, and how revealing it is to have around.

The day was long. I had spent it in the hot school, thinking too much just for waking up at 5 am. By the time I got to lay down in my bed, my head was throbbing and pounding as fast as the tick, tick, tick, tick of the clock hanging on my wall. I fell into a deep sleep, hoping by the time I woke up I would be offered a nice steamy meal and my headache would disappear. I dreamt of the many terrifying assignments I had due by 11:59 p.m. When I woke up, to my mortification, my head was still booming with pain. Reluctantly, I hear a subtle yell from downstairs, “Dinner!” I spring out of my bed—the fastest I’ve moved in weeks—and race down the steps. A big pot of creamy alfredo noodles sits in front of my face. It smells of seasoned chicken, warm pasta, and smokey cheese. I almost forget about my headache and boom. But I don’t let that stop me from scarfing down my favorite comfort meal. I take some medicine as soon as I’m done and prepare for a shower. I turn the water to the hottest I can reign. I jump in, and I feel the headache squeeze out of my head like you’re ringing out a wet washcloth. I wash away the stress and anxiousness of the day. Once I get out, get in bed, and cover up I finally realize I no longer felt tense, and I never felt better.

The center of the world is water. The body is made up of 75% percent water, without it, humans can suffer fatal consequences. When looking forward to taking a nice hot shower after a long, exhausting day of thinking and working, water. A hot summer day that makes it feel like you are surely dying of heat exhaustion? Water. It is important to me because water is the biggest natural anti-stressor I could ask for. I didn’t appreciate it enough until now, but from here on out I will always take time to appreciate having water around because it is the center of the soul.