She Cried Out

That day we were swimming; taking a break from the hot, dry weather. The sun was burning bright and we had been working hard. We dove into the cool and refreshing waters of the river with delight, laughing and making a whole lot of noise. But there was no one around to hear, so we let ourselves go -- forgetting all of our cares and troubles.

He tried to dunk me while I splashed playfully, mussing up his hair when he came within arms reach. I remember feeling like pleasure and life were so real, so tangible. We were free, and we reveled in that freedom with an unspoken zeal that took the place of reason. The exhilaration of our fresh and vibrant youth was like a sweet, tantalizing wine to our systems; intoxicating us, urging us farther and deeper into the river as we swam farther and farther away from our troubles.

We had begun to drift lazily, letting the current of the river pull us slowly along, with new and alluring sights at every bend and turn. We were thoroughly enjoying ourselves; it was a beautiful day on a beautiful river and we were together. Nothing could touch us.
  
But I realized it first. 

The current was beginning to grow stronger. I struggled for a footing, coming quickly out of my comatose complacency; suddenly very aware that we needed to get out of the water before the current got too strong.
I began to look for a way out while he kept trying to play, calling out to me and splashing some more. He wouldn't listen to my protests as I struggled against the current that was beginning to overpower my attempts to swim to shore.

Then I remembered.

Someone had told me this would happen. They had said there was a waterfall -- a big one -- somewhere down here. I realized with horror that this was exactly how they had said it would happen. They had said it would be fun at first -- before you got in over your head. I wished I had listened more carefully.

"We have to get out of here!" I screamed with all of the breath I had left. He didn't listen, still playing and swimming along by himself, ignoring me.

The current was pulling us fast now. I knew that the end was coming soon, and the waterfall was coming sooner. A distant thundering was now audible to me; the water almost pulsated with anticipation of the nearing drop. Oh, what had I done? Why had I not listened? Was there no way out?

"We have to get out of here!" I screamed again. This time, he listened and I saw a look of fear cross his face. But almost as soon as it came, it was gone, dissolving into the same sickeningly complacent smile. I was on my own.

"Help! Somebody help me!" I cried in desperation. I felt all of the stupidity of this desperate plea -- no one would hear us. No one even knew we were here.

Then I remembered again.

The one who warned me about the waterfall was a survivor and they had cried out in desperation and someone had been there to hear. New hope surged through me; I screamed and shouted, devoting all of my remaining energy into begging for help as loudly as I could. When the current pulled me under, I fought back to the surface, desperate -- and determined -- to be heard.

It was then that I saw him.

Could it be true? A fisherman? All the way out here? He was running downstream, with the current, carrying something. Over the roar of the river I heard a distant, "Hold on!" When I saw what he held, knew in an instant that he could help me. He could save me.

"Help me, please!" I pleaded again. The thunder of the waterfall was louder than ever now, overpowering my weak and tired voice and deafening me to his replies. It was then that I realized with perfect clarity that my life was in this man's hands. I had to trust him. I had no other choice.

Something white and red landed to my right. I flung myself onto it and clung to it with all of the strength I had left. His strong, scarred hands pulled me to shore and as they helped me out of the water and laid me on the soft grass, I wept like a child. I couldn't believe it. I was saved.

But he was still out there.

Even in my exhaustion, I grew terribly afraid. I had so narrowly escaped certain death and he? He was still floating languidly, even with the now fast, rushing waters of the river fully guiding his path. I got to my feet weakly and ran to the water's edge. The fisherman had already begun to call out to him.

"Hold on! There's a terrible waterfall around this bend. Let me throw you this life ring and I'll pull you out!" The fisherman hurled the ring towards him.

He floated by it.

"Waterfall?" He laughed out loud with an unnatural amount of energy. "I'm okay, thanks anyway."

"No, it's true!" I shouted weakly, while I struggled to keep up with his quick pace. It was almost impossible to be heard over the deafening roar of the falls. "Can't you hear it? It's coming... you'll die!"

"Look, I'm a good swimmer. See? I'm swimming upstream right now!" He proceeded to swim upstream a little, coming closer to us. "I'll be fine. Waterfall or no waterfall."

"Just take the life ring!" I shouted again, louder this time. "I did! It's your only hope!"

"I'm telling you I don't need...!" His voice was drowned out as the sound of the water crashing against the sharp, jagged rocks at the bottom grew even louder. He had let himself float again; now he was nearing the curve of the bend that I knew was followed by the steep and undeniably angry waters of the waterfall. 

Only then did he realize.

The ring floated next to him as he began to swim toward shore, struggling to prove his strength and refusing to grab hold of his only hope of salvation.

"Take it!" I screamed desperately. He was close to it now -- beyond him the horizon of water ended suddenly, met by an expanse of a bright azure sky. Despite all of his struggling, he was on the precipice of death.

I closed my eyes in horror and when I opened them again, he was gone -- the life ring bobbing quietly, held in place by the rope in the fisherman's scarred hands.