CHAPTER FIVE

I scream.

I'm sinking into the water.

The flood rushes towards me.

I try to swim, but the water is so heavy. I can't move my arms.

"Help!" I scream, but nobody hears me.

There's no one around. I am alone. Completely alone.

I silently curse Lucas for doing this to me. This wasn't supposed to be how things would go. We were supposed to be together. Forever.

Instead, I'm going to die in this river, unwanted and alone.

I hate him for making me feel this way. I hate myself for letting him.

I see a tree branch floating toward me, and I grab it.

I try to use it to push myself along the water's surface, but I still can't move my arms.

The water is everywhere.

It fills my mouth and burns my eyes until I can no longer see.

The water rushes over me, and I pull myself forward.

I still can't see anything.

I am so scared!

I need to get out of the water, but my clothes are heavy, and I'm so tired.

I can't think.

I let go of the branch. And in this moment, I know this is it. This is the moment I die.

But then I feel something.

Someone is holding me.

A hand is on my arm, and I'm being pulled.

*

I wake hours later in a soft, warm bed. There are blankets covering me, and they smell like fresh rain.

I sit up and survey the small room.

The walls are made of wood.

It is quiet and peaceful.

I look outside.

I see a meadow, and it is covered in wildflowers.

There is a river and a forest in the distance.

I look down and see that I am wearing a silken gown.

It is beautiful and soft, and I have never felt anything like it before.

My feet move to the end of the bed, and I put them down on the wood floor.

I feel dizzy as I stand, so I lean against the bed until the feeling passes.

I take a deep breath and walk to the door.

I open it and walk down the hallway, and I notice that there are paintings on the walls.

The paintings are beautiful, but I can't appreciate them because my mind is spinning. I need to find him. Lucas. I don't know why, but I am certain he is the one who saved me.

Maybe I was wrong about him. Maybe there is hope for us after all.

I walk down the hall, and out of the cabin.

Outside, there is a garden, and I see some people tending the flowers.

I look around for Lucas, but he is nowhere to be found.

"You should be in bed!" a soft, kind voice behind me exclaims.

I turn to see who's speaking.

"You nearly drowned. You should be resting."

I can't quite comprehend what's going on. Who is this woman? And where is Lucas.

"Sorry- this must all be terribly confusing for you," she says. "I'm Julie. I'm the one who pulled you out of the river."

"Oh," I say, as my heart sinks.

"You were in bad shape," she says. "I hate to think what would have happened if I hadn't been there."

"Me, too," I reply.

"What's your name?" she asks.

"Marla," I reply.

My voice is thin and weak.

I try to swallow. I feel like I'm going to be sick.

"Are you ok?" she asks.

"I'm sorry," I mutter. "I feel dizzy."

"Here," she says. "Let me help you."

She takes my arm and leads me back inside.

I sit on the bed.

She hands me a glass.

"Drink this," she says.

I drink until the glass is empty.

"Thank you," I say as I set the glass down.

"You're welcome," she says. "Now, why don't you just lie down for a bit. Maybe it'll help"

"Maybe," I say.

I know it won't. I know what's wrong with me isn't the drowning. It's the broken heart. And no amount of sleep will fix that.

But I don't want to explain this to her. I don't want to talk to her-- or anyone. I just want to be alone.

So, I lay down and face the wall. I pretend to sleep. And I hope she can't hear me crying.

Days pass in this way.

I wake up each morning and try to get out of bed.

I walk around.

I eat food.

I stop myself from crying.

And then, when I can't take it anymore, I lay back down.

Julie comes and helps me get dressed.

She brushes my hair.

I still don't say anything to her, and she doesn't push. She is kind to me. I don't know why, but I am grateful-- for her kindness and for her.

I stay in this pattern for days, until one day, Julie doesn't come.

I lay in bed for most of the day. I am grieving. And I don't want to face the world without him-- without Lucas.

But when night falls, and Julie doesn't come to get me, I decide I need to go looking for her. I can't just stay in the cabin forever. It's lonely here, and I feel like I'm wasting my life. Plus, I'm starting to worry about her. It's not like her not to come. Maybe something has happened.

I walk down the hall and step outside.

The air is cold and crisp, and stars are shining brightly in the sky.

I walk across the meadow, as the grass tickles my ankles.

I emerge from the meadow into the forest. The trees are taller here, almost reaching the clouds. The forest is dark and quiet-- except for the sound of my footsteps. And then, I hear speaking. I squint and try to listen closer. There are two voices. One sounds like Julie.

I follow the voices and finally, I see her, Julie, lying on a blanket in the grass. There's someone with her. I can't say who, at first, but then he turns, and suddenly, I see a face I recognize. A face I'll never forget. It is Lucas. And he's kissing Julie.