Which way is out?!
I NEED TO BREATHE!
My eyes burn along with my lungs.
I’m crying.
I’m crying because I know-
Hands grip mine. Pulling me free.
Beckett.
Strong arms close around me.
I know it’s Beckett.
I want to sob.
But I need to breathe.
I can’t…
My mouth opens, my lungs forcing me to pull in air that I know isn’t there.
My mind tries to scream at my body to stop, but my body doesn’t listen.
My lungs expand. And pain explodes through my chest as…
Oxygen.
Oxygen fills my lungs.
“It’s okay. You’re okay.” Beckett sounds like he’s crying. “Please be okay.”
I want to tell him I am. That he saved me. But I’m coughing. Trying to learn how to breathe again.
My hands clutch at Beckett’s warm body.
“Elouise, talk to me. Baby, please talk to me.”
My numb fingers grip him tighter, and I can feel him pulling me through the water. Then my feet drag against something, and there’s ground beneath me.
Our legs are still in the water, but Beckett’s gotten us to the shore, our limbs are in a tangle as he lays me on my side.
His hands touch me everywhere. “Elouise. Baby.”
I swallow, taking in a less painful breath, “I’m okay.”
Beckett pulls me into him, his hug almost too tight.
“Elouise.” He keeps whispering my name, I can feel his body shuddering.
“Thank you,” I whisper between my own sobs. “You saved me.”
He shakes his head as he presses his face into the side of my neck. “You were gonna get out.” His hold tightens. “You would’ve gotten out.”
We both know his words aren’t true. But I still nod my head.