The River Children No Longer Swim In

2018 CE • Changkat Keruing, Perak, Malaysia

We were on a ledge overlooking the river, the most scenic landmark in the small village of Changkat Keruing. My dad was telling me that when he was a child, he and his friends loved swimming in the river. I asked why we've never swam in it. He laughed, and told me it was too dirty. You can't swim in the river.