desertion

21

The last thing I remember is Chris asking where the water went and now I'm here. Running down the pier as fast as I can, Buck's hand in my hand, pulling me with him. Me, Buck, and Chris are able to get to a stand and hide in it. Buck jumps over the stand as the wave hits.

I'm pulled by the water, my body swishing around, being thrown and hit by things, making me weaker and weaker. My arm hits something, making me scream, though no one can hear it. Neither can I.

Water has filled my ears and I can't even hear the swishes of water anymore. I'm thrown into something big, making me weak and tired.

********

Everyone says your life flashes before your eyes when something scary and dangerous happens. It's a metaphor.

This is my life flashing before my eyes.

I swim to the surface, taking a huge deep breath as I look around. I can't see Buck nor Chris. I don't see anywhere safe either, except for a tree branch. It will have to work for now.

I swim as much as I can and get over to the tree branch. I hop on top of it, and rest my head down. That's when I notice the blood.

Blood is covering my shirt and my jeans. I feel a strong pain in my side and I pull my shirt up. There's a huge gash covering my stomach and it's bleeding bad.

I look around trying to find anything I can place over it but I don't see anything.

Well, crap.

*********

The sun is starting to set. I've been on this tree branch for I don't even know how long. The water receded a bit earlier, which almost caused me to fall into the water again but luckily I have a strong grip on this branch.

I'm starting to get weaker and I know I need to do something before I end up dying on this branch. The water doesn't seem as deep so I jump back into it.

I just start swimming. I don't know where I'm going.. but hopefully I'm heading towards land.

********

I've been swimming for hours, at least it feels like it.

I finally found some more shallow water that leads up to a street. Everything is just dirty and debris is everywhere.

I limp as I walk through the street. I found land. I recognize this street. We passed it on the way to the pier. I can't help but think bad thoughts.

What if I end up dying right here? What if I never see Dad or Chris again? What if I never see the 118 again? Or Maddie? I fall to the ground, my body finally giving up on me.

"Hey, hey! Are you okay?!" I hear someone ask. I look up through glazed eyes. It's a guy. He can't be much older than me. "I just need to- to rest." I say, closing my eyes. "Okay, look. I'm Nathaniel and there's a VA hospital around the corner. I came out and was looking for anyone who needed help. I'm taking you there." The guy says, making me stand up. I groan in pain.

He puts his arm around me and starts leading me somewhere. I don't know if I'm going to survive this.

********

We walk into a site. There's tents set up and there's people everywhere. I hold my stomach as we walk. I'm not really walking truly, Nathaniel is having to drag me basically.

"I need some help over here!!" Nathaniel yells. "Lydia!" I hear a familiar voice say. "Buck.." I say weakly. He runs over and I fall into his arms. "Thank you. Thank you." Buck says to Nathaniel. "Buck?! What are you doing here?!" Dad asks. Buck looks over his shoulder and that's when Dad sees me.

"We need help over here! Now!" Dad yells, rushing over. "Where's Chris?!" Dad asks. "Eddie.." Buck says.

The world seems to freeze then. Everything around me moves in slow motion as I see a truck pull up. A woman steps out and I recognize the kid in her hands. I stand up. "Woah, woah. Lydia!" Buck says.

I run towards Chris, ignoring the pain all throughout my body. "Chris!" I say, taking him out of the woman's hands. "You're Buck?" The woman asks. "No.. I'm his sister." I say. "He was looking for Buck." The woman says. "Thank you." I say, pressing a kiss to Chris's head.

Dad runs over to us. "Lydia, baby, you need to get checked out." Dad says, picking up Chris from my arms. "I- I'm fine." I say, even though I know I'm not.

Hen walks over and she looks down at my shirt. Her mouth falls open, and I look down. I see the blood. I knew there was blood but I ignored it. My body collapses to the ground and the last thing I hear is the call of my name.

I don't recognize the voice as everything goes black.