Page 2 of Norah

Stumbling out of the frigid water, I lay him or her on the ground and look at their face.Her face.It’s a woman, and even in the state she’s in, she’s beautiful. I see quick flashes of high cheekbones, delicate brows, and full lips as I try to assess her condition. She’s ice-cold and terribly still.No!A silent cry tries to claw its way out as I try to focus and remember the steps that had once been drilled into me.

Head back. Airway clear. Sharp puffs of air.I continue to force air into the woman’s lungs, praying to any deity that might step in to help. She looks incredibly fragile with her soaked clothing clinging to her slight frame; this mystery woman is kicking every protective instinct I have into high gear.Come on, breathe for me.She’s such a tiny thing, so helpless, and I want to rage at whatever made her think this was an option.

Heart racing, I pull my head back to look at her pale features, hoping desperately to see some hint of recovery.Breathe, please breathe. “Come on, you can do it! Take one breath, that’s all. Come back to me!”

Plunge

NORAH

This wasn’t how I had expected things to go.

Instead of a mindless ride through the water, I’m lying on the ground and a strange man is leaning over me, speaking in urgent tones. I was so shocked at being pulled out of the water; it stunned me into silence. I’m frozen with indecision. Do I jump up and run away? No, that would be more suspicious. Should I play dead and run away later? No, too much potential for complications. What should I do?

As my inner debate goes on, I’m only dimly aware of what the man is doing. I suddenly realize he’s trying to revive me. During pauses, I can hear him begging me to come back. His voice is deep and kind of growly, but there’s a gentleness as well. He sounds like a kind man.

A man who would feel responsible for failing to keep a woman alive?Probably. He’s already risked himself, jumping into the river to rescue me. Do I want him to believe that he couldn’t save me?No. I can’t. It wouldn’t be right.

Decision made, I turn my head to avoid spewing water in his face, and cough out the liquid in my lungs. A few smaller coughs and it’s all out, and I tilt towards the man and open my eyes.

He’s beautiful. It’s the first thing that runs through my mind, and it’s undeniably true. He has deep green eyes surrounded by long black lashes and framed with strong, thick eyebrows that seem to quirk naturally. The lines of his face are strong, complemented by a nose that’s just the tiniest touch too large. Light black stubble that still has drips of water clinging to it enhances his tanned skin.

This man is large, with broad shoulders and muscular arms that are holding him off the ground above me. He must be nearly twice my size, and blocks everything behind him. I take a small sniff and catch hints of musk and peppermint, along with another scent I can’t place, but must be uniquely his.

I realize that he’s talking, while I’ve been distracted by looking at him.Well, if he didn’t think I was insane after jumping off the bridge, he will from my creepy staring.He pulls me up and shifts me so I lean against his arm, and he speaks again.

“Can you tell me your name?” he asks. “Do you remember falling in the river?”

Yes, and yes. But what should I say?

He speaks again, softly. “I’m Ethan. I pulled you out of the water and got you breathing again. Can you tell me how you’re feeling?”

He’s so beautiful and gentle and it’s so nice being cared for again, so against my better judgment, I decide to respond.

ETHAN

When she coughed up the water and opened her eyes, a feeling of victory hit me.Not tonight.Thank you, thank you, thank you for not dying on me tonight. But I know she’s not out of the woods yet, so I hold my breath, hoping for her to reply.

The woman in my arms sighs softly, then finally speaks. “I’m Norah.”

I close my eyes in relief. When I look at her again, I find a much stronger emotion engulfing me, nearly taking my breath away.She’s gorgeous. I had caught little peeks of her beauty before, when I first pulled her out of the water, but now I’m getting a full on gut punch.

Her gray-blue eyes are wide, with miles of lashes surrounding them. She’s got a tiny nose and almost doll-like features, and her skin is so flawless it barely looks real. Her lips are full, with the bottom a little larger than the top, and they’re flushed despite her brush with death.

I realize I’ve been staring at her instead of actually seeing how she’s doing, and give myself a mental kick. No doubt she’s already crazy freaked out, and now I’m staring at her like some kind of creeper. I pull back and kneel next to her, then gently slide an arm under her back to raise her to a sitting position.

“Norah. Do you know where you are? Do you remember what happened?”

She opens her mouth to speak, then pauses as if she’s trying to decide how to respond. “Yes, I’m at the river. You pulled me out after I… fell off the bridge.”

Hmm. I don’t remember it looking like she fell in, more likejumpedin, but we can go with it for the time being. Right now I need to figure out if she’s injured, and get her to a hospital. I ask, “Are you in any pain? Is it hard to breathe?”

“No, I feel OK.” Norah gives me a tiny smile that I think is supposed to be reassuring.

“Well, I think we should have you checked out…”

The wind picks up, and as it brushes against my wet clothing, goosebumps prickle uncomfortably. Then I look at Norah and realize she’s shivering. She’s been in the water longer than me, plus with her tiny size, she’s got to be freezing by now.

In fact,beyondfreezing. Given the time she was submerged in the icy river, coupled with the cool night air, it means she could be in another kind of danger.Shit.

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