Christopher Collins
The city buzzed around me, vibrant and alive, but I felt adrift in my own thoughts, navigating through the evening fog that clung to the air. I had just finished a long shift at the hospital, the kind that drained you of energy and hope, and I needed the solace of the night to clear my head. But as I approached the bridge, a flicker of movement caught my eye.
There she was—an ethereal figure silhouetted against the dimming sky, leaning perilously over the railing. My heart skipped a beat as I watched her sway, her hair whipping in the wind, casting a haunting image that sent a chill down my spine. She looked lost, her body tense and trembling as if the darkness below called to her.
"Hey!" I shouted, my voice swallowed by the cacophony of the city around us. But she didn't turn; her gaze remained locked on the abyss, distant and unreachable.
My pulse quickened as I took a step closer, desperation clawing at my chest. "Please, don't!" I cried out again, but the sound felt like it dissipated into the night. There was a disconnect between us, a chasm I couldn't bridge, and I could see the turmoil in her posture—fragile yet resolute.
I took another step, urgency propelling me forward. I knew I had to reach her. With each stride, my heart raced, the weight of impending loss crashing over me like a wave. I could feel the desperation in my gut, the urgency of the moment pressing against my chest, and yet she remained oblivious to my pleas.
"Please, just take a step back!" I yelled, the words catching in my throat. I was close now, and I could see the tears streaming down her face, glistening like stars against the night. But still, she wouldn't look at me, wouldn't hear me.
I lunged forward, adrenaline surging through my veins as I reached out for her. "I'm coming!" I shouted, but it was as if the wind carried my voice away, leaving only silence in its wake.
Then, in an instant that felt like an eternity, she leaned farther over the edge, her body bending against the railing as if it had become a magnet to the darkness below. My heart dropped, panic flooding my senses. I couldn't lose her—this stranger whose pain was so palpable, so real.
"No!" I screamed, desperation taking hold. I sprinted forward, knowing I had only moments to act. My hand reached out, fingers stretching toward her as if I could grasp the very essence of hope.
And then it happened.
She slipped.
Time stretched as I watched her fall, her body silhouetted against the night sky, arms flailing, a final gasp escaping her lips. Without thinking, I dove after her, propelled by instinct and a desperate need to save her from the void that threatened to swallow her whole.
The world around me blurred as I plummeted, the cold air rushing past, the water below rising to meet us. I could barely breathe, my heart pounding furiously in my chest as I stretched out my arms, trying to reach her in those split seconds that felt like a lifetime.
I hit the water, the shock of the cold slamming into me like a fist. Panic surged, but I fought against it, my eyes scanning for her as I submerged. The darkness enveloped me, but I pushed through, my lungs burning, searching for the warmth of her body amidst the chill.
There!
I caught a glimpse of her, the surface shimmering above us, and I kicked harder, my heart racing as I swam toward her. My hand grasped her wrist, pulling her closer as I fought to break through the surface.
Together, we broke free, gasping for air as I dragged her to safety. The cold water clung to us, but the warmth of life surged through me as I pulled her toward the shore, the darkness of despair giving way to the flicker of hope I had yearned to ignite.
As we emerged, I could feel the weight of the night pressing down on us, but I held onto her tightly, determined not to let go.
As I dragged her from the water, the cold air hit us like a shockwave, and I quickly assessed her condition. She was limp, her skin pale against the moonlight. My heart raced with panic as I fought to stay calm. I had to act fast; every second counted.
I laid her down on the damp ground, my hands trembling as I placed them on her chest, feeling for a heartbeat. There was nothing. The world around us faded away, and all I could hear was the rush of blood pounding in my ears. I had to try.
"Come on," I murmured, shaking my head as I pushed down hard, remembering the drills I'd practiced so many times before. "Stay with me. You're going to be okay."
I pressed down firmly, counting out loud as I worked: "One, two, three…." Each thrust felt like an echo of desperation, a silent plea for her to fight back. I could see her lips were blue, and fear gripped my chest, tightening like a vice. I needed to give her air.
After several compressions, I tilted her head back and pinched her nose shut, sealing my lips over hers. I breathed into her, watching for any sign of life. "Please, stay with me," I whispered between breaths, desperation lacing my voice.
I could feel the weight of my own breath against her lifeless body, the cold seeping through me as I fought against the tide of hopelessness. I repeated the cycle—compressions and breaths—my heart pounding harder with each attempt. The world felt like it had shrunk to just the two of us, the chaos of the city fading away into the background.
With each compression, I could feel the strain in my muscles, but I pushed through. I wasn't going to give up. I refused to let this stranger slip away without a fight. "You're stronger than this," I urged, trying to infuse her with the strength I was desperate to share. "You have to fight."
After what felt like an eternity, I paused to check for any response, my breath hitching in my throat as I leaned closer to her face, willing her to breathe. And then it happened. A soft, shuddering gasp escaped her lips, a fragile sound that sent a wave of relief flooding through me.
"Thank God," I breathed, my heart racing as I shifted back to her side, ready to continue if I needed to. "You're going to be okay. Just hold on."
I could see the flicker of life returning to her, the color slowly creeping back into her cheeks. "Stay with me," I urged again, my voice thick with emotion, her eyes flickered a tear for a moment before shutting once again.