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My bare feet pound on the worn wood, aching with each bound forward. I'll almost surely have splinters later, but that is the least of my worries. The dock comes to an end ahead of me and I probably have 10 more steps before I need to prep. A few feet to my right, another dock rests, but there is a 5-foot fence blocking it off. It's meant to keep people from jumping into the water or from fishing. I close my eyes and take a few deep breaths as I angle my body towards the right and reach the last 2 steps of my sprint before launching my feet off of the edge.

Time slows down as I feel the wind whip around me and grab onto my loose white T-shirt and shorts. I can still his desperate shouts behind me, but we both know he cannot make the jump. My body comes to a jarring stop as my fingers cling roughly to the fence. The only thing on my mind is that I made it. I actually made it. Even though he's right behind me and there are probably thousands of people on the way, I made every preparation I could to make sure they wouldn't get here in another 5 minutes.

It is only that reminder of my remaining time that forces me into action as I begin my ascent up the fence. It tears at my calloused and worn out hands and feet, I immediately wish for my favorite boots and gloves, but sacrifices had to be made. A sharp pain in my right shoulder rips through my senses and blinds me, almost to the point of letting go. I did not think he would rather me dead than alive out here.