At the last moment, I reached out and grabbed her wrist with my hand. She hadn’t been expecting it, so she was unprepared for the sudden weight. Holding tightly, I pulled her as I fell, so that we both toppled over the side of the boat and into the water.
The ocean water was deep and cold. I hadn’t been expecting the fall so I had not properly inhaled. I was quickly running out of air as I thrashed and kicked, searching near-endlessly for the surface.
Occasionally my thrashing hand or elbow or knee knocked into Bridget. She was struggling too.
Then, finally, blessedly, I breached the surface and sucked in a large, deep breath. Looking around, I saw the boat still pushing forward. Beside me, Bridget’s head rose above the water. I had to do a double take, to make sure it was her.
Her ha
