Before Me, Him

Chapter 74

     The sun was shining brightly onto the bluest sky I had seen in a while however this is the coldest day so far. In a way, during winter, rainy days end up being better since they are warmer. I let out a big breath just to see some steam being formed, looking almost as if I had smoked.

     - Adrian catch! – says Charlie as he throws a ball to his friend down on the beach. Josh was sitting on a bench, chatting with a beautiful blonde lady called Elise, his sister.

     I don't remember having been on this beach during a winter afternoon however the sea somehow looks darker and the reef where I am sitting feels colder as well. Today Charlie wanted to see the beach so we ended up doing what he wished. Of course, I tagged along, it's not as if I had anything better to do during the afternoon.

     - June June! – I look behind me to see Charlie with Adrian, a pretty boy with some kind nut colored eyes and extremely light brown hair, almost blond at its ends. – Look what I found!

     - It's really pretty but you two shouldn't be here. – he had brought me a beautiful light yellow conch. It had some dark brown stains and some whites here and there. – Come on, let's go down.

     I didn't want them here especially not in the winter. I don't know what could happen if they tripped and hurt themselves since this reef is very slippery and somewhat high. You won't die if you fall, unless you hurt your head on the rocks but still, it's a risk I'm not willing to take.

    - We just want to play a bit. We will stay right here so you can see! – Charlie smiles softly and I am unable to say no.

    - Alright, just a little bit. – I smile back as I give him a mess up his hair a bit with my hand.

    They were little but brave kids. It's not everyone that decides to climb a reef at their age even though, it is not hard since there is somewhat of a small path serving as a guide. Even so, the majority of kids avoid this place due to being frightened or because their parents don't allow it. Since I was here and Josh was chatting happily with Elise I could watch over them.

     - Adrian did you know that if you place the conch on your hear you can hear the ocean talking? – Charlie chuckles as his friend looks at him astonished.

     - Really? – Adrian runs to me and opens his hand, asking me to borrow the conch that they had found earlier. I give it to him and, as his hands get a grip of the small object, he places it straight away against his ear. Afterward, he places it in my jacket pocket and with a smile runs towards the end of the reef.

     - Adrian, don't go that far it's dangerous! – I hurriedly get up and as I lift my head I hear Charlie scream.

     - Adrian! Adrian! – he keeps on screaming and, as the place where he was before was now empty, I realized Adrian had fallen into the water. Without thinking I run and jump down.

     - June! – I hear Charlie scream as then I could listen to his footsteps, running towards the beach, mostlikely to warn Josh and Elise, right before my face hits the cold water.

     As I feel my whole body being touched by water I shiver as it was freezing me. Not even a second passed and I feel extreme pain in my right leg and, as I look behind me I see a trail of blood on the water. "Shit" I think as it hurt more and more due to the salt in the water.

     "Adrian" I come back to my senses as I see a small body slowly going down in the water. I swim down as my leg screamed in pain and I catch him.

     - Adrian! Wake up! – I say as I slap his face softly, trying to wake him up. He coughs some water out and starts breathing normally again. "Thank god he wasn't in the water that long" I thought to myself as I brought him back to shore.

     Once I regain my footing I start limping due to the pain of placing my leg on the floor. It hurt so bad and I felt as if I had no strength due to the cold wind and temperature.

     - June! – Josh runs inside the water, wetting everything until his knees. Elise was in a state of shock and at the same time relieved as she rushes to help as well. The other few people that were walking on the beach also ran to help us, they were all in the fifties or eighties since the majority of young adults were either working or in a warmer place. "What can we do to help?" or "Can we do anything?" they were asking with worried expressions on their face.

     - Take off his clothes. – I say as I pass Adrian onto Josh's lap and I start undressing as well, staying only with my regular black bra. I pick him up again as his bare skin touches mine I look to Josh. – Cover us with your jacket, please.

     Josh nods and quickly covers us. Since I'm somewhat small his jacket was the only one that was dry and that managed to close. Right after he picks me up and starts heading towards a bench. Some people had already left but others were just helping by carrying up my clothes. One of them even went to a coffee to grab me a hot chocolate in order for my body to warm up faster. Charlie was behind a light post, shaking in fear. "Poor thing" I thought to myself.

     - It's alright Charlie. Everything is fine so don't worry! – I say as I smile kindly and he slowly starts to approach.

     - It's not alright, look at how much you are bleeding! – says Elise panicking. I look towards the sea and to Josh's clothes, they were covered in blood and the light sand was now tainted in red.

     - From the amount of blood you must have cut a vain or an artery. – says a young man that ran from a restaurant nearby. Quickly he removes his belt and places it around my right leg and tightens it in order to prevent the blood from flowing out of my body. – You might lose your conscience due to the blood loss but don't worry, an ambulance is on its way.

     Charlie starts tearing up while looking at me and Adrian. I place my hand on his head and pet him softly.

     - It's alright. – I reassured him as he grabs my hand and holds it tightly. He should be extremely concerned and maybe he would even think that all of this was his fault.

     I see Josh walking behind me and I lay my body on him as I drink the hot chocolate. The bright light was shining on me and as I looked into the horizon the waves started to turn and then, without any warning, everything turned black.