A Call That Changed Her Entire Life

Emily couldn't help but glance at him. "Stop it," she said.

"All right," Jacob replied as he kissed her cheek.

The rope was about to break and his face had become serious, "Hold on tightly to me. We are going to jump into the river."

"OK." She was nervous and hugged him tightly, but before she even realized it, her body began to fall. "Ah!" she screamed.

The rope hadn't broken, instead she started falling because he had untied the knot which was around her waist and released her.

The couple clung together as they plunged into the turbulent river, sending up a great splash of water.

Sinking to the bottom of the river, Emily gulped in several mouthfuls of water, and her ears and nose filled in with the intense pressure of the deluge. She struggled fearfully as she began to drown! But in the nick of time, Jacob pushed her up to the water surface. Since the current was swift, they were washed down along the river course.

Soon they were confronted by a waterfall which roared ahead of them. Below it the water bubbled and churned in a whirlpool from which there was no escape.

Seeing that the waterfall was fast approaching, Jacob pushed Emily towards the riverbank with all his strength. She reached out to pull him towards the shallow waters, but failed to grasp his hands. The force of the river current carried him past her and suddenly they were separated.

"Jacob!" She felt his finger tips brush past hers and then he was hurled out of her reach, further and further away from her. A state of helplessness and panic overcame her, "No!" She screamed in desperation.

In the blink of an eye, Jacob vanished under the water. She didn't know if he had been washed away, or if he had been sucked into the waterfall and the dangerous whirlpool below it.

"Jacob! Jacob!" She screamed in sheer despair, but heard no response except the tearing song of the rushing river.

Fearing that she would lose her beloved once more, Emily collapsed onto the muddy riverbank, suddenly depleted of all her strength.

Why? Why was god so cruel?

reunited with him, only to lose

the turbulent waters, her mind numbed by despair. Then, she stood up and stumbled back

touched the water, a large fat fish landed beside her in a spray of water that beaded

icy splash made her come to her senses. She looked at the river and saw Jacob bob to the surface of the river, and he began to

fixed on the man struggling against the water. She was unaware of the tears rolling across her cheeks. How lucky that she had not cast herself into the waters before Jacob surfaced, or she would truly have been separated from her love for ever! She looked down at the fish once more. Its timely arrival had saved her life, and she wondered if she should thank it. Stooping she picked it up and carried it a few steps

and enduring courage. When he saw Emily sitting in a dejected heap, he felt both gratitude and pity. Bending he scooped her up and carried

head and kissed away her tears, which tasted a bit salty, yet

was afraid you would disappear again, just like last time." Realizing that she was now very fragile, she could not hold back the pain, "I couldn't stand such a blow again. If you

soul. Bowing, he kissed her lips, "I won't... Even if I were really dead, I

Emily's pupils dilated sharply, and suddenly

and arousal he unconsciously gasped a deep breath.

the pain of their separation and her fears in the moment

make a fire, and

up in Jacob's arms, clinging to his body for heat. Wrapped in his embrace

to change into the dry garments, while he began to remove his wet clothes to dry. When she finished dressing, she glued onto Jacob again, her large eyes fixed on his face. She seemed to

his heart palpitating in response to her fear, he drew her into the safety of his arms again and kissed her hair, "Don't be afraid! I will never leave you,"

would cherish his own life. He wanted to be with her forever. He hadn't seen the lovely daughter she told him about yet. Moreover, there

her, but there was much that they still had to live for.

his chest in silence, her long curled eyelashes overshadowing the unease which still clung to her eyes.

next to him he began preparing the lucky fish for roasting. Yellow fish oil seeped from the scaly body

too weak and threw up whatever she

some of the fish and hurried to transport Emily back to the

a fever had begun, which gave her a splitting headache, made worse by the bumpy track which he was carrying her