I blinked against the murky water, my arms outstretched, my fingers searching for something—anything—other than mud. My lungs burned as I reached deeper, a sign that my body was already running out of oxygen.
Then, when I thought I couldn't reach, because I couldn't see clearly in the dirty water—suddenly, the boy's hand brushed mine, then slipped away.
'No. Fuck this.'
I pushed forward, ignoring the chill that ran up my spine. I moved my hands around, searching for him. That was when I felt his little hand, then I instantly grabbed him.
I pulled him hard out of the mud that was holding him down, then I kicked my leg against the water, swimming upwards. When my head broke out of the water's surface, I gasped heavily for air. The water had risen high now, covering my body. The boy coughed and sputtered water from his mouth, his eyes widened in panic.
