Wading Ever Farther

I stand broad shouldered in the pool, the pool that deepens by a fraction of an inch per mile.  I strive to pave the way for her. While she is formidable, I have always been taller, and in this setting 2-3 inches means testing the water for miles in advance. I am up to my shoulders now, nervous about proceeding, for any wave could drown me, and wondering if there is much point. Then I see her, also up to her shoulders, but only mid shoulder!?  She must be wearing high heels! How dare she take this cross from me. I stare dumbfounded as she wades farther into the calm still ocean. I made up the waves, there is no wind this far out when we are virtually side by side, so I push out farther too.  She might have the physical height advantage now (through shenanigan alone!), but somewhere my sheer competitive insanity was overlooked, or not taken into account. I throw my head back and pucker my lips, ready to walk until they are all that protrude above the glassen sea. Long ago I steeled my nerves to my environment, now requiring only life critical items to survive, ignoring everything else except the mission at hand. While she is making that mission this much harder, I also love the challenge, and her all the more for it. In the end if the envelope has been stretched so far as to allow for all possible permutations without needing to lift another finger, and additional fingers can be lifted or not at any time with only positive impact to be had, well then we will have figured out the elusive secret of heaven. Silly challenges like this, each of us leaning on our individual talents brought to bear, bring us ever closer to the discovery of the nature of this secret; so while ire may be raised temporarily, we each throw ourselves into it eagerly, awaiting the end, and the new beginning. I begin to laugh out of the top of my mouth as the heels in sand slow her down, and I pass her once more, now realizing how ridiculous I must look.  This is one in a long line of puzzle challenges, I can't wait to be back on shore with her, laughing about this one.