Drowning.

That's how he felt.

Like he was drowning.

In a large lake, the surface iced over, no escape. No matter how hard he kept banging on the ice, it wouldn't break.

He was burning.

He was caught in a fire.

A big roaring forest fire, and where was he? Stuck up in a tree, the flames travelling quick up the trunk, about to reach him.

But there was light.

A soft glow.

The ice was melting.

The fire was dying.

His lungs found the air.

He jumped down from the tree.

She was there.

Standing at the edge of the lake.

A few feet away from him.

Her soft brown eyes shining. Her brown hair blowing.

She reached out her hand for him.

And he took it.

It was time to say goodbye.