Katong Swimming Complex

This is one of the quieter pools in Singapore likely because of the low density residential vicinity. I love how quiet this pool is (especially weekday afternoons). Because less people come here, the water is relatively cleaner with none of the disgusting debris mucking about (like those yucky mucous strands that space out throughout the 50m like obstacles one needs to avoid unless you have swallowed it together with the pool water by accident).
I come here whenever I can to get the sports adrenaline high (I call it the happy hormone) to ease my loneliness as well as soak up as much vitamin D as my skin can handle. That is the thing about being in a long distance relationship with him back then. You get lonely pretty often.
And in these times, it seems the world has conspired together to remind you how lonely you are. The in-​you-​face public displays of (diabetic inducing) affection, the colder than usual breeze as you walk towards home half-​wishing for his hand to wrap around my shoulder and pull me tighter towards his warm body, the half empty bed as I slipped underneath my duvet looking for his hands I could hold onto in vain.
When I plunge into the pool loneliness somehow leaves my heart as if afraid it will drown. The periodic breathing in and out as I focus on getting the maximum distance with each freestyle stroke allows me to focus on the happy times when we were together. I let off a little silly grin. I remembered the driving trip we did together in the UK a few years back. That is a tale for another time.
The T at the end of the pool bubble into view as I get ready to curl up my lip and initiate the flipturn. This is something I am proud of. The differentiating mark of a serious swimmer versus the casual. I love how the water rushes pass me as I push off the wall. And then a small dolphin kick to break the surface. With each kick I feel a bit lighter. With each lap, it seems like the long distance relationship is doable and I am closer to my happily ever after.
Competitive swimmers are taught to do negative splits meaning faster after each lap. I do that as well not because I want to achieve the best time but because I want to generate as much happy hormones as possible so that I could pack it into my back at the end and ration it out till the next swim.
The 1500m mark comes up and I heave myself up and out of the pool. Unlike other pools where the tip of the water level meets the ground, this pool is a bit peculiar in that the wall height is a bit higher than the water level and one has to make a real effort pushing himself out to exit (there are steps on the sides of cos).
Perhaps that is a good thing. What is a relationship if one doesn’t put in any effort at all?