The water was soothing. It cradled him like gentle hands, rocking him back and forth in a rhythm so natural, so comforting, that he almost forgot about everything else.
The aching in his limbs.
The exhaustion weighing him down.
Down here, it didn't matter.
Nothing did.
His breath left him in slow bubbles, rising to the surface, popping against the cool air above.
He could almost fall asleep like this, drifting in the waves, letting the tide carry him away.
But then —
A sharp pain shot through his lungs.
His body reacted before his mind could catch up, and suddenly, he was kicking, pushing himself up.
The moment his head broke the surface, he sucked in a deep, desperate breath, gasping for air as the cool night wind rushed against his damp skin.
His chest heaved, his heart pounding from the sudden rush of oxygen.
Lucas blinked, water streaming down his face, as if he had just woken up.
What the hell was that?
For a second, it had been too easy to just… let go.
