The rain was still feeding the river, and the river was eating everything, and Adam was watching it go—that’s when he finally saw her. She was still far away, but he saw her.

“Hello!” he shouted, falling onto his stomach in the mud and reaching into the water.

“Adam!” he heard her shout.

She was coming closer to him. Swimming toward him.

They caught each other’s arms and held fast.

“You’re alive!” she cried. “I’ve been looking for you, hoping.”

“I was looking for you!” he said. “You left the bridge.”

“I didn’t leave. I just came unstuck. And then I was caught up, like everything else, in the river.”

“We’ve found each other now,” he said, grasping at her arms, trying to haul her up onto the bank.

“No,” she said, pulling back. “Adam, what are you doing!”

Her arms slipped away from him. They caught each other by the wrists.

“I can save you!” he said.

She laughed at him. Her lips were red. Her teeth were pointed. Her skin was the color of a green tea Frappuccino.

“It’s still a no,” she said, squeezing his hands tight.

She was stronger than he was. Bigger than he was. She was trying to hold on to him without pulling him in.

“Are you here to save me?” he asked.

“Oh . . .” she said sadly. “No.” She pulled herself carefully toward him. “But I’m glad you’re alive. You’ve always been lucky.”

“The road is gone—is this what you wanted?”

“No.”

She was a dark shadow in the water. But he wasn’t a fool—he knew she had a tail.

“It will be easier for you now,” he said. He was crying again. “I’m glad.”

She shook her head. “This isn’t easy. This is just another kind of hard. That’s all that’s left now, for any of us.”

Adam still didn’t understand. She shook her head, like she didn’t expect him to.

Then she pulled herself close, so carefully, and raised herself out of the water.

“My prince,” she said, and kissed him.

And then she let go.

Mixed Messages

Beth

Are you there?

Text me when you’re there.

I might not text you back right away—we’re going out to dinner for our anniversary. (Not our wedding anniversary.)

Jennifer

Happy anniversary!

You’re there!

Well, I’m here.

Are you at work?

Indeed. I’m the only copy editor working today. I wonder if everyone else was laid off. It wouldn’t be the first time that’s happened . . .

Can you talk?

Talk? No. Text? Yes.

Beth

I meant text.

Jennifer

Well, here I am. What anniversary is it, if not your wedding anniversary?

It’s our together anniversary. Like, our kissing anniversary. I like it better than our wedding anniversary. The weather is better.

You’re the one who wanted to be a June bride . . .