A Story That Won't End

y

... m

as coming from the river beneath the bridge I was

e guardrail, I squinted at the water. At first, all I

perately, followed by the head of a boy br

riverbank. My shoes slipped off, my backpack hit the

cut through me like shatte

every time he surface

ching my arm toward him. He loo

I kicked hard, dragging with everything

nd shaking. He curled up, knees

ing water from my hair, m

, freckled face. His skin was gh

out here?" I asked, st

, uh... looking for a goldfish,"

In this river? Let me guess-some

was enough o

pack, and pulled out a jacket. "Here, wear this. It's my

Thanks, but...

rug, trying to sound tough even

udied me-and I could te

smiled

nly again made me feel bad for him, espec

ispered. "I though

igure out how to get revenge on people who mes

I wasn't joking. I meant it-it m

ow your name?"

I said.

iv

y! Zoning

as we drove across the sa

kly out the windo

? Oh... sorry," he muttered with

tes from the airport and y

Guess I'm just

Your epic goldfish ques

muttered. "I just...

Hey, I'm not flying to another planet. It's j

t's not the same. You're my best friend, Hope. Wh

self a little. But yeah, I'll still check in on you. And

you better com

romi

rything expl

screeched. We were thrown

e heck,

Marsh-

ss my forehead. Blood. I touched it, stunne

he seat, trembling. I grabbed his sh

, Hope," he

en to me-sin

the air. My ears rang,

I ordered. "Block it all out, Ri

began to sing-soft at first. I joined him, forcing my shaky

front, panicked. "Hold on, Miss

e. My chest squeezed tight with panic. We were only

ecognize cut through th

two kids in

laude wasn't moving-his

and yanke

a tear you apart for this

e worth a fortune," t

He cursed and dropped me. I bolte

d slammed into th

d. My legs buckle

ified face flickered before me

ise..." I whispered, right befor