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Hayley laughed. “Nope. I’m just trying to be at one with nature or some shit.”

They each squealed then burst out laughing as the water lapped at their thighs. Anna had never been colder in her life, but the laughing helped. As did hearing Hayley swear so much. They faced each other, chests heaving and teeth chattering.

“We can do this, Anna.”

“Well, we’re here now. We might as well.”

Hayley held out her hand. “Together?”

Anna took Hayley’s hand, feeling the warmth spread all the way up her arm and reach her chest as their fingers entwined. “Together.”

“On a count of three we walk even further, then go all in and start swimming.”

Anna nodded. Hayley did the counting and before she knew it, they were plunging forward into the unknown. Hayley gripped her hand and submerged. Anna was shocked at how cold her body was under water for a split second. Back at the surface, the icy water lapped at Anna’s shoulders.

Hayley’s mouth was open, and her eyes were as wide as Anna had ever seen them. “How are there not icebergs in here?”

Anna tried to agree, but only gasping sounds escaped her.

Hayley swam around a bit, going further into the loch, smiling and making loud groaning noises at the cold.

Anna swam back towards the shore, instinctively, unsure if she could take much more of this.

“Where are you going?”

Anna stood up on her tip toes, grateful to have found the floor. “Er. To shore. This. Is. Crazy.”

“Lean into it. It’s so cold it’s almost warm. You feel that?”

Anna focused on the sensation in her body, despite her mind’s plan to go in the opposite direction. “Strangely, I do.”

“Come and swim around with me.”

Hayley had such a reassuring gaze and energy that Anna found herself swimming towards her. Hayley always had a way of helping Anna go above her nerve, like that time she helped Anna prepare for and succeed at a presentation Anna had been stressing about. It was equal parts annoying and thrilling.

“Life doesn’t get much better than this,” Hayley said, doing the breaststroke beside Anna. “I can’t remember the last time I felt so alive.”

Despite herself, Anna had to agree with her. There was something about swimming around in very cold water in a beautiful loch that made every nerve stand to attention: the silky feel of the water as she pulled it past her, the sound of the water sloshing around her, and her matted wet hair sticking to her face. “Me neither.”

“Aren’t you glad you came in?”

“Maybe.”

“Yaaaaas. I’ll take that as a win.”

“I’m ready to get out. I think less is more with water at these temperatures.”

“Yeah, you’re right. Small doses are best.”

As they turned around and swam back to shore, with the campervan glistening in the distance, Anna smiled at nothing in particular. She’d been too scared to go wild swimming for years, and Hayley had only been back in the country for a matter of weeks and had already made this happen. This was effectively the first day on their trip. What else was Anna going to experience in the company of Hayley and her adventurous attitude to life over the next two months? Could she handle it?

They wrapped themselves up in their beach towels once they got to shore. The sand irritated Anna’s skin but she was still glad of the relief. Her body oddly felt like it was burning. Her teeth started chattering again. It was almost colder outside the water than in it.

After drying herself down with her towel, Hayley threw on a giant poncho towel and looked off into the distance. “What a beautiful place to be! I already know I’m going to remember this day for the rest of my life. I loved that.” Hayley regarded Anna shivering in her towel. She held up the shoulders of her poncho. “Would you like to put this on?”

“No thanks.”

“We should get you one.”