I glance over to where I last saw Lucy and her yellow dress. But she’s not there, and it’s all so quiet, so empty.
“Lucy?”
My heart thuds in my chest, and dread fills me. Coating me from my head all the way to my toes. I hear a little noise and frown.
Leaving the ball lost in the grass, I run to the pond, and as I get closer. I hear the splashing.
She can’t swim.
She can’t swim.
She can’t swim.
The words go over and over in my head, and my legs and arms pump as fast as I can. The pond seems like it’s so far away. But it’s not, it’s just that I’m so very scared.
She can’t swim.
She can’t swim.
“Lucy!” I scream, stopping at the edge of the pond.
She’s not there.
Where is she?
My eyes frantically search the water, and I see it, the splashing. Her little head pops up and disappears back under the water.
I throw myself into the pond. It’s cold on my hot skin, and it makes my breath catch in my throat and I gulp the water before coughing it out.
She can’t swim.
But I can. I’m the strongest swimmer in the class.
I throw myself forward; the water is smelly, and I’m sure there are things grabbing onto my feet, trying to stop my progress.
Tendrils of weeds. Not hands and fingers, trying to pull me under. My imagination trying to play tricks on me.
She appears again, her little arms flapping against the surface.
I reach her as she sinks under again, and I hold her up. She’s younger than me, but I’m not strong. I’m quick, but I’m not the strongest. I push her up, and I go under the water.
It burns my eyes, and panic claws at my throat.
I can’t drown.
She can’t swim.
I can swim.
I kick to the surface, but she’s wrestling and fighting against me.
“Cookie, I’ve got you. Please stop splashing!” I shout, fear making my voice shrill and loud. It sounds nothing like me. “Lie on your back, and I’ll pull you to the shore. I’m here. I’ve got you.”
I try to sound confident, but I’m scared.
She’s heavy, and the clothes I am wearing and she’s wearing make it all heavier and slower.
I try to stand, but we are in a deep spot, so I grab hold of her and pull her onto my front, my head wants to dip under the water, but I kick my legs as hard as I can to keep me from going back into the murky water.
