Pressing my lips against hers once again, I beg the Lord above to bring her back to me. They feel warm, full of blood. They’re soft, they have life. I pull away slowly and see the green orbs staring back at me. The second they do, my heart falls back into place.
“Drew,” she mouths, barely above a whisper.
“I’m here, Zo.”
I know she can see me. She’s spoken my name.
Her eyes dart back and forth, the panic building when she realizes everyone’s watching her. A second later, I abruptly turn her over to her side, the fluid projecting from her mouth.
Chapter Three
Zoey
His voice is all around me.
Begging me to look at him.
Praying for me to come alive.
Telling me he can’t live without me.
And I try to reach out to him, but he’s not anywhere within reach.
Then it happens.
A warm feeling graces my lips.
And it feels nice.
Really nice.
I don’t want it to stop. It comforts and fills me with peace and serenity racing through my veins and warming my flaky, cold skin. I want to savor this moment. Stay like this forever where everything feels just right, almost perfect.
Then out of nowhere, the sensation stops. The bitter cold harshly knocks me back and forth followed by the terrifying feeling of the unknown.
My eyes open wide, and there he is—Drew.
I call his name, and he smiles back at me.
He’s right by my side. He is real. I’m not dreaming this. I’m alive.
This euphoria, this short-lived relief, disappears. With my chest heaving and my breaths short and quick, my lungs cave in a panic, and there’s a rush to move me. I don’t know what’s happening. The voices are muffled. My chest is regurgitating some sort of fluid. I’m terrified. What’s happening to me? The fits of panic pump heavily through my weak limbs as I lie here, wherever I am.
“Drew… Drew…” I call his name, my voice raspy and strained. I reach out for his hand, and he holds onto it observing me with sorrowful eyes.
“I’m here, Zo. I won’t let go of you. I promise.”
People are surrounding me—strangers. Dressed in blue uniforms, a man and woman check my limbs and begin speaking to me. Several questions are asked, but I can only manage to answer a few as I’m lying here like I am in a freak show while the crowds watch in anticipation. Now I remember what happened. Rob was telling me a joke, and I was flirting and trying to show off, then all of a sudden, I lost control. The waves forced me under, and then my body was pulled beneath the surface with such a strong force.
The paramedics tell Drew I’m fine, but as a precaution, to take me to the hospital. Drew’s shoulders are slumped, and his face is full of worry. His eyes appear bloodshot. His normally tanned skinned looks pale and cold just like mine.
“I’m sorry,” I mouth over and over again.
The paramedics pack up their equipment as people start to disperse. As soon as they leave, Drew diverts his attention back onto me, scooping my body up in his arms and carrying me to the car with Rob and Isaac following closely behind. My head remains next to his chest, closing my eyes to control the tears that want to escape. He has a few words with the guys, then places me carefully in the car.
After a short drive, luckily we don’t have to wait long at the hospital. They run some tests and let me go, advising me that every
thing’s clear, but if I don’t feel well, to make sure I see my doctor immediately.