The Day I Died

Astrid POV - Water

Frozen water lapped at my calves sending shocks of cold up each leg into my spine. The water glistened deep plum and fiery orange as the setting Sun danced on the delicate waves. Sigh. I stretched my arms, reaching for the gradually darkening sky, cracking every vertebra in my spine and popping my shoulders. The bridge to town towered high to my left and the only remaining bystanders above were a group of old German tourists and a boy my age with messed up blonde hair.

Eventually I took another step into the water. A new shock of cold rushed through my body, awakening my brain. I paused momentarily then took of my sweater (the last item of clothing other than underwear that is still on my body) and dove into the water. My lungs seized up and my body went numb. My eyes fluttered open under the water and I rolled onto my back to stare at the water's surface. It looked like a portal to another world. An abstract world. One where everything is out of focus and moves in a rushing non-stop way.

Gently the air escaped my lips and tiny bubbles emerged that grew and grew as they raced to the surface. Raced to the portal. Once again I closed my eyes and let my body float towards the air above. I crashed through the glass of the water and was born into the waves. I gasped a huge gulp of air and then floated gently on the gentle bobbing river. With an inward sigh I knew it was time to return to shore. Nonchalantly I paddled to the shore and wrapped the towel I had brought around my soaked body. I glanced at the high arch of the bridge and saw that it was empty.

Well... the bridge was empty but the air was not. The scruffy boy from earlier was plummeting down through the air toward the choppy centre of the river. A piercing scream filled the air and only after I clapped my hand over my frozen lips did I realise it was coming from my mouth.