Then, everything goes dark.
42
Tobias
“You’re doing it, Tobias! You’re really doing it!” Elijah laughs. I kick as hard as I can, as my arms swing out beside me.
A wide grin spreads on my face. I really am doing it. My head stays above the water as I tread, feeling the excitement and pride fill inside of me.
Elijah shouts, clapping his hands excitedly in front of his face. “You got it, Tobias. Keep kicking! Keep kicking.”
I do as he says, paddling my feet hard until our hands connect. I feel his warm touch, as he threads his fingers through mine. “Hold onto me,” Elijah giggles.
“I am, I am.” I laugh, squeezing his fingers through mine.
I look over to see Elijah’s dad beaming, swimming over to us. A wide smile on his face as he throws me a thumbs up. “I knew you could do it, kid.”
I smile, wrapping my arm around his shoulder as he and Elijah both hold onto me. I throw my fist in the air whooping and hollering as we all splash in the warm summer sun.
Nothing but love fills my heart as I look at their happy faces beaming back at me.
The best summer with the best people.
***
The brightlight makes me wince as my eyelids slowly flutter open. Once I adjust, I realize it’s the sun beaming through the soft linen drapes on the other side of the room.
I hear a faint beeping somewhere close.
My heart starts beating faster now as the last memories of where I just was flood in.
I survived the fall?
Where’s Derrick?
Where’s Elijah?
The beeping noise starts to get louder as it rings in my ears. I attempt to sit up but a piercing pain shoots through my chest, making me wince.
What?
Not only that, but I quickly realize my other arm is weighed down. My whole chest is heavy, stopping me from sitting up all the way.
Am I strapped in? Shit. Derrick still has me. He’s got me. He’s—
My hands lift to try and fight, but my fingers snag on a head of dark brown tousled hair.
I smell that familiar scent of warmth and cinnamon cookies during the holidays. My muscles immediately relax as I melt into him.
Elijah.
Love swims through me, warming my chest and relieving me of all the worry I had only seconds ago. I immediately bury my hand in his hair, snuggling him close.
He’s here.
I’m safe now.
He answers me with faint, little putters from his sleepy lips, and I can’t help but smile.
