Dreaming Related Short Story

I wrote this story for both my creative writing class and a short story contest that my school has. There was a limit of 500 words, so I was unable to capture dreaming with as much depth as I would have liked, but I did my best. I've already submitted it for the contest, but I'll still be revising it for the class, so any feedback is welcome. Enjoy :)!

Thalassophobia

Rachel reluctantly flung herself off the slushy sand into the rolling waves and began swimming towards the shadowy clouds ahead. Her arms swung past her head in rhythmic succession pulling her through the water while her feet fluttered at their own faster tempo, and her head alternated sides peeking up at the unstable clouds. She was gliding under the stable ceiling in a body of chlorine water until a thundering wave crashed into her head-on. Flailing and thrashing, she turned around to the suddenly distant shore. The clamor of battling waves reverberated around her as she noticed a singular object protruding out of the water moving in her direction. Terror clutched at her muscles, and she submerged without struggle. With burning eyes, she tried to scream, but salty water gushed in through her mouth instead as the shark descended upon her.

Rachel jolted up with a pounding in her chest. Her covers, modeled as the lanes of a professional pool, clung to her skin like a terrified child holding her mother. Rachel glanced at the bright red numbers of her clock as she did every time she woke up. Laying adjacent to the clock and a small lamp on the night stand, her dream journal hungered for a new entry. But the notebook would have to starve; Rachel would not record that fear again.

Yet, she could not block those emotions from her mind. How can an aspiring Olympic swimmer be afraid of the sea? It was clear to her why her fear had been manifesting the past few nights. Her father had told her, if a swimmer can master the barbaric ocean, the stationary pool does not stand a chance. They would drive out to the beach in the morning. If my limbs freeze up, will I even survive?

A temporary solution emerged from the shadows of her mind. One way or another she would have to face her fear. Something she had read in a dream book given as a gift by her mother would help prepare her for when that time came. Rachel pulled warm, comforting air into her nose, then pushed stale, dreary air out of her mouth. With a normal heartbeat, she repeatedly replayed the dream in her mind in such a way that made her smile. Satisfied, she laid back down on her pillow.

Rachel reluctantly flung herself off the slushy sand into the rolling waves. As she began swimming towards the shadowy clouds ahead, a sudden conscious awareness captured her entire being. She mentally reminded herself of her goal to be brave, then looked ahead. The thundering wave bounced off of her like a bullet off of Superman. Suddenly encouraged, she turned around in anticipation and faced the ominous fin racing towards her. After a quick reassurance, she closed her eyes and let herself slip under the water. A daring attempt to breathe brought happy oxygen into her lungs. Her eyes slid open to see fear, but instead met a dolphin.