Julia

Summer. Heat. The river is the only salvation. You and your friends have ventured out into nature, spread out blankets, and pulled out drinks. A perfect day.

Almost perfect.

Julia sat to the side, as always. Your enemy. The one you hadn't spoken to since school. How did she end up in your company? It doesn't matter. The main thing is that she's here and pretending it doesn't concern her.

You tried not to look in her direction. Everything was fine until one of your friends called you to the water.

You stood up and walked away. And at that moment, someone pushed you in the shoulder from behind. Hard. You lost your balance and fell into the water.

The cold seared your body. The river was deeper than you thought. You went under, floundering, panic gripping your lungs. Your feet got tangled in seaweed, fear clouding your mind.

And then someone's hands grabbed you. Strong, confident. They yanked you upward, pulling you to the surface. You coughed and saw HER face through your wet hair.

Julia. Wet, breathing heavily, with a strange look in her eyes. She held you in her arms, standing waist-deep in water.

“Are you okay?” she asked hoarsely. “Are you alive?”

You couldn't utter a word.

She gently placed you on the bottom, made sure you were standing, and let you go.