He squeezes tighter, and his eyes close.
Dammit! Look at me! But my throat is closed. I can’t scream at him.
He’s going to kill me without even looking at me.
My hands flail, fighting against his hand taking my life. But he has more strength in his hand than I do my entire body.
I try to kick his groin, as I did before, but he has my legs pinned to the railing.
I can’t move.
I can’t breathe.
And I can’t speak to get him to change his mind.
He’s shut out the world, gone to whatever dark place allows him to kill the innocent and condemn his soul to hell.
I close my eyes as the pain overwhelms me again.
I’m alone.
I stop fighting.
I let the darkness come.
But just before it reaches me, something happens.
I can’t explain it.
Maybe I’m already dead. I thought I would go to hell for the life I’ve lived. The stealing, the hurt I’ve caused my father, my disobedience. Maybe an angel saved me, and I’m going to heaven instead.
For a second, I’m floating. I must be out of my body.
And then just as quickly, I’m falling.
Down.
Down.
Down.
Until my body crashes into the cold water.
9
Enzo
The water burns my skin as I plunge into the ocean.
My skin is always hot, like fire. The water is frigid in comparison and slices through my flaming skin like ice.
I have a love-hate relationship with the sea. I love the freedom it offers, and yet it can just as easily cause death. The ocean, for all its beauty, has to be experienced cautiously. For it can take life as easily as it gives it.
I kick hard and break the surface of the water. I suck in a deep breath, filling my lungs with oxygen.
I forget what caused me to tumble into the water. I forget everything as I breathe in the salty air. Right now, I love the ocean. I love how it makes me forget by stealing my brain cells and using my body to keep me afloat.
A gasp next to me brings me back to reality quickly.