I was at the waterpark with my new boyfriend when a man suddenly approached me and whispered, “You need help. Come with me. How could your boyfriend not warn you about this!” Surprised, I followed him.
Only then did I see it—my entire back was streaked with bright, chalky blue paint. At first, I thought it was some sort of prank, but the man explained that one of the older water slides had a safety marker used by lifeguards to identify worn surfaces. Unfortunately, I had unknowingly brushed up against a newly patched area, and the paint had transferred onto me.
It wasn’t harmful, but it did look startling from a distance. He had noticed the marks and didn’t want me to feel embarrassed walking around in front of the crowds. As I washed off the paint, relief washed over me as well. Continue reading…