Swimming the English Channel, br struggling to make it to Calais, br I swam into Laura halfway across. br My body oiled for warmth, br black rubber cap on my head, br eyes hidden behind goggles, br I was exhausted, ready to drown, br when I saw her coming toward me, br bobbing up and down between waves, br effortlessly doing a breaststroke, br heading for Dover. Treading water br I asked in French if she spoke English, br and she said, "Yes, I'm an American." br I said, "Hey, me too," then asked her out for coffee. br br br Anonymous submission.