Of course.The wave would reach its peak and then turn.If she wasn’t careful, it would drag her out with it.
The wave shifted, pushing them towards the jungle.A tree came out of nowhere and they hit it hard, the soldier’s hands sliding off the door as he was pulled under the water.
No!
She reached for him, but it was no use.He was gone.Then the water ripped the door from her grasp and she fought the pull, her arms burning with the effort to keep her head above the water.
She was almost two kilometres from the shore.Surely the wave had to stop soon.
Tears filled her eyes as her arms grew heavy.One shoe ripped from her foot and her bag pulled against her neck almost choking her.
The water spun her around, and the tempo changed, slowing.She was surrounded by water and debris, but her feet brushed the ground.
The wave had reached its zenith, which meant it would soon start receding, dragging everything with it out into the ocean.
Including her.
Frantically she swam towards the jungle like the soldier had suggested.She scanned the nearby water for him but saw no sign of him amongst the debris and branches.
The edge of the wave was only ten metres ahead of her.
The water withdrew more slowly, dragging her with it.
She gasped and increased her effort, lungs burning, muscles aching.
Nearly there.
Mila reached out and her fingers brushed the smooth trunk of a palm tree.
One last stroke and the water shifted, slamming her against the next tree.Her breath evaporated, but she grabbed the trunk and curled her arms and legs around it.
She struggled to get air back into her lungs as the trunk began to creak and lean.
The water was ripping it out and trying to pull her grip from the tree.
She sobbed as she scanned the wave’s progress.Five metres, three metres, two metres.
An arm stretched in supplication out of it across the road in the jungle.
The soldier.He was alive.
For now.
She tried to keep track of him, but he disappeared beneath the water again.
The tree trunk was at a forty-five-degree angle now and still Mila clung to it.
The last of the wave washed past, and the tree stayed standing.
Mila couldn’t let go.Her body was locked into position.
She exhaled, feeling every ache and pain in her body.Slowly she unlocked her ankles and let her feet fall to the ground, then she pried her fingers apart and slid to the dirt.
Her stomach retched, and she vomited dirty water all over the ground.
She panted, taking stock of the cuts and scratches on her arms and legs, the heavy bruises that were already forming.Slowly she moved each limb, checking for breaks.
Every cell of her hurt, but nothing was broken.
