Alex was the rescue team captain. He knew exactly which child was in more danger.
But he didn't argue. He just looked at Serena, conflict written across his face.
She knelt there, tears streaming silently down her cheeks.
"Marcus never had a father. He's always seen you as his real dad." Her voice cracked. "Whatever you decide… he won't blame you."
Then she smiled—a brittle, broken thing.
"Besides, if Marcus dies, maybe he'll finally meet his biological father. I'll follow him. Our whole family can be together again."
Alex said nothing. He checked the rope one last time, then jumped into the river.
I screamed for him to save Ethan first. He didn't pause. Didn't even glance at my son as he swam past. Straight to Marcus, scooping the boy into his arms.
I'd seen this before. Lived it once. Relived it ten thousand times in nightmares.
In my previous life, it happened exactly like this.
The floodwaters had been receding when both boys somehow fell in. The riverbank was crowded with injured survivors—women, children, people who couldn't swim. Alex was the only one who could go in.
And he chose Marcus.
Back then, I wasn't calm. I'd clawed at him like a madwoman, refusing to let him come ashore, screaming at him to go back for Ethan.
It didn't matter. Ethan still cried out as the current dragged him under.
And because my "interference" caused both Alex and Marcus to swallow water, they ended up hospitalized. I went from grieving mother to crazy woman overnight.
So this time, I didn't fight. I just knelt there, every ounce of strength drained from my body.
Without my interference, Alex got Marcus to shore safely.
I didn't waste time arguing. I crawled toward him on my knees.
"Alex, Ethan still has a chance. Please—save him."
But the moment Alex stood, Serena grabbed his arm.
"You can't go back in. You didn't sleep last night. You just came out of the water—you have nothing left. If you go down again, you'll drown."
Her grip tightened.
"Ethan's already gone under. Even if you try, you'll come back empty-handed. You're the captain. We need you. In disasters, sacrifices happen. If something happens to you, what about the rest of us? The women? The children?"
But this time, because I hadn't lost control, no one took her side. One by one, the survivors grabbed the rope.
"Captain, Ethan's not far from shore. There's still time."
"We won't let go. Even if it kills us."
Alex didn't listen to Serena. He stood, stepped toward the water—
"Marcus isn't breathing!"
It was absurd. Marcus's hair wasn't even wet. But Alex believed her. His foot was already in the river. He pulled it back.
Serena's voice turned shrill.
"Don't go! Save Marcus first—I'm begging you! Ethan's gone. There's no hope. Are you going to let the boy on shore die too?"
Alex looked at Ethan, drifting further and further away.
Then he turned back. Gathered Marcus in his arms.
And walked away.
