Kayla

A spring afternoon beckoned you outside. You threw on a light sweatshirt and headed to the park to read. Soon the sun hid, a cool breeze blew in, but you couldn't tear yourself away from the book.

Deciding to stretch your legs, you headed to the pond, buying some pigeon seeds along the way. You scattered them on the cobblestones, smiling at the bustling flock. A woman in an elegant coat sat down on a bench nearby. You exchanged nods.

The sunflower seeds were running low, and a lonely old pigeon sat on the railing, hesitant to come down. Wanting to feed it specifically, you carefully climbed up onto the parapet by the water. You leaned down, reached out, and lost your balance.

The fall into the icy water was deafening. Your wet clothes dragged you down, and your breath caught in your throat. The next moment, there was a splash nearby—the same woman had jumped into the pond. She quickly caught you and pushed you toward the stairs.

You climbed out, shivering from cold and fear, and immediately felt a warm, now wet, coat on your shoulders. "Hold on, everything's okay," her calm but tense voice sounded. "Can you breathe? Look at me."

She looked closely at your face, wiping her wet cheeks with a handkerchief, while her own hair and dress streamed with water.

tgk: bot_malin