The Undoing

Several feet below the surface of the roaring river, Jaime reached for the end of the rope wrapped around his waist. He knew if he remained tethered to the Jeep’s roll bar, he would soon drown. One pull on the rope and he would be released to the current, surging toward the gaping black hole. He hesitated a moment longer, his lungs about to explode. Then, realizing it was impossible to hold out any longer, he began to tug on the rope with what little strength he had left. As the end of the rope began to slip through the knot, Jaime heard a voice. The words were as clear as if the water hadn’t been roaring in his ears, the tone so gentle and peaceful it distracted him from his pain. He let go of the rope. He was still tethered to the Jeep, floating under the water. He felt himself slipping into an altered state of consciousness, as reality began to recede into the distance.