Chapter 14: You're Okay, Sweetie

Alyssa was kneeling by the edge of the pool, soaked, hair wild, screaming Emily’s name. Lizzie stood frozen, tears streaming down her cheeks, pointing toward the deep end. Chloe was rooted on the spot. Her eyes wide and scared. Roman was already diving in without thinking. Dean was just walking in from the other side of the house, phone in hand— body still glistening from the dip earlier. “Jesus Christ,” Dean breathed, sprinting to the water’s edge in case Roman needed help. I rushed to Alyssa’s side and dropped to my knees, grabbing her shaking hands. “What happened?!” “I—I turned around for one second,” Alyssa choked out, her voice breaking as she gasped for breath. “I swear I only turned for one second. I was trying to get her snack. I didn’t think she’d—” Roman was already pulling Emily up from the water. I noticed her little stuffed unicorn still in the pool. Her arms hung like broken twigs. Not a twitch. Not a cry. Just silence. A silence loud enough to split my chest wide open.