One Photo, One Story: The Last Jump of the Day.

A family memory from Mallorca, where water became our escape.

Mallorca in the summer is not my favourite place. It is far too hot and far too crowded. The heat was so strong that the only real escape was the water. Luckily, just next to our hotel, there was a rocky islet where we could swim.

It was not a golden sandy beach but something more unusual — rocks with ladders bolted into them for climbing out, and wooden boards for jumping in. At first it looked a little rough, but soon it became our favourite place.

I have never really liked swimming. The water is always too cold, too wet, too much of something. But this spot was different. It felt like being in an aquarium. With masks on, we swam endlessly, watching fish and plants drift by beneath us. We even saw an octopus, which felt unbelievable.

Maybe the water was warmer than usual, or maybe it was the adrenaline, but for once I forgot about my dislike of swimming and just enjoyed the moment. We spent hours in that water, morning and evening, staying until the sun went down and there was only darkness below us.

When I think of it now, it is a little frightening — the deep water, the unknown beneath — but at the time it was pure joy. And of course, I took a thousand photos. My waterproof camera became my best motivation to join in with the girls, and those photos of them splashing and laughing still make me smile.

Underwater, they looked like little fish, or maybe mermaids, so free and graceful in the water.

There is one photo that I always come back to. It was already late, and I said, “last jump for today,” because it was getting too dark to see anything. But the girls were still laughing, still playing.

The horizon was painted with every colour of the sunset. Lily stood on the diving board, her small silhouette against the sky, ready to jump. The waves slapped against the rocks, the air was cooling, and I sat in the deep, dark water waiting. Then — splash. The last jump of the day.

A little scary, a little cold, but so full of happiness.

Dorota🌿