Page 4 of Time to Bounce

But the hotel was so far away that I realized how lucky I was to be alive.

I’d swum really far.

The moment I was in the boat, I was bundled in a silver space blanket and then shoved into a life vest.

I put it on, allowing them to snap up the buckles.

My eyes must’ve been as huge as they felt, because the woman buttoning my life vest said, “It’s gonna be okay, baby.”

It didn’t feel like it was going to be okay. It didn’t feel like anything was going to be okay ever again.

She pressed her hands against my cheeks and pressed a kiss to my brow.

I leaned into her, and stayed leaned into her, until we motored around the bay back to my parents.

I found them standing at the dock, looking anxious.

The moment the boat was close enough, Dad catapulted himself on board.

He had me in his arms moments later.

“Baby,” he breathed. “God.”

I felt my throat tighten.

“I’m sorry,” I breathed. “I’m so sorry.”

He ran his hands over my body, checking for injuries.

“Are you okay?” he asked. “Are you hurt anywhere?”

I was already shaking my head. “No. I’m okay.”

I mean, about as okay as I could be after being scared out of my mind all night.

“Sir,” one of the men who rescued me said. “We need to get her to the hospital.”

Dad picked me up and walked me to the ledge, then easily carried me over the ledge.

He didn’t hand me over to my mom, who was reaching out to me.

“Honey, she’s too heavy for you,” my dad told her bluntly.

She was right.

I’d been too heavy for my mom for a long time now.

“Please,” my mom pleaded.

My dad ignored her and caught me up on his hip, like he used to carry me when I was a baby.

I hadn’t been a baby in a really long time.

“Let me see her,” my mom ordered.

I hated when they fought.

“I can walk,” I whispered into my dad’s neck.

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