No one would know it, looking at her in a bikini.My mom tried to explain that our line of women are late bloomers.I look down at my practically nonexistent chest and beg it to bloom already.I’m starting high school in a couple months, and I’m barely out of a training bra.
Livvy’s by herself.Well, other than her brother.But he doesn’t count.I’m getting up the nerve to ask her if she wants to sit with us when a giant splash makes everyone turn toward the cliff.
“Ooh, that couldn’t have felt good,” Collin comments.
“What did you do?!”a boy screams from atop the cliff.
“Hey!Get back here!”
Jonathan is on his feet.I didn’t see who went in.Several others lean over the water’s edge, including Livvy.The river’s current’s moving faster than usual, especially after all the rain last week.
Hands flail out of the water.A head.A weak cry.Then gone.
Jonathan sprints to the edge of the rock and dives in.
I’m up.So is Collin.
Everyone is silent.On their feet.
“Call 911.”
“Where is he?”I ask, searching for Jonathan.
Someone is running.Maybe more than one.
Jonathan surfaces.The power of his stroke pulls him close to the hand that breaks through the water.He dives under when it disappears again.He resurfaces, searching around him.Swims further out and disappears beneath the rushing river.
He surfaces with the boy under his arm.He sidestrokes to the nearest ledge.I lose sight of him within the trees.
Collin and I scramble down, climb over rocks, cross over blankets.My bare feet can’t get me there fast enough.
“An ambulance is coming!”someone yells.
I climb up another boulder on my hands and knees and slide down the other side.Collin’s nearly to them.Jonathan bends over the boy, breathing into his mouth.
I trip and sprawl on a slab, my foot catching in a crevice, so focused on the still boy.I push myself back onto my feet and leap over the small gap to land where Jonathan and Collin are performing CPR.
Collin breathes, and Jonathan does compressions on the unmoving chest.
“Who is that?”I hear Livvy ask, getting closer.“Sadie, who is it?”
I turn to her.
“Who is that?!”she screams.She stops two boulders away, but doesn’t come closer.
The boy is pale.His sun-bleached hair is plastered to the sides of his face.His lips are purple.
Collin breathes again.
I can’t be here.I can’t watch this.
“I’ll let the EMTs know where you are,” I say and turn away.
When I get to her rock, Livvy clutches my arm.“Tell me.Is it him?Please, Sadie.Is he okay?”Livvy is crying.Pleading.She’s looking at me like maybe I can do something.That I can help her.But I can’t.I peel her fingers from my arm.She grabs for me again, frantic, scratching my sunburned skin as I pull out of reach.
I climb back over the rocks, leaving bloody smears from the cuts on my hands and knees.I don’t feel them.
The EMTs are at the top by the main path, carrying a red board.I wave my hands in the air.“Here!Down here!”I continue to climb toward them.I point the way when they reach me, but they already see where to go.
