The Summer of Henry

by iloveromance

When 17 year old Melissa Sherwood is sent away to Camp Firewood in 1981, she unexpectedly falls in love with camp counselor Henry Newman. But even more unexpected is the revelation of a secret that Henry has been keeping. And it's a secret that could shatter Melissa's fragile heart. A completely AU version of the film in which David Hyde Pierce stars as Henry Newman.

14. Chapter 14

It was several seconds before I remembered that I couldn't swim. I sank lower and lower into the water; my arms above my head, and I felt so free... like nothing could hurt me.

In the water I was far away from everything and anyone; this stupid camp, the counselors... and Brett, who had unwittingly broken my heart in two.

As hard as I could, I pushed my way to the surface, gasping in huge breaths when I finally broke though the water and saw sunlight.

But then I had to struggle to stay afloat and suddenly I was terrified.

I began to sink lower and lower in the water making it almost impossible to move my arms.

I thrashed around, unable to breathe. Until that moment, I didn't know what the word terrified meant, and was pretty sure it was impossible to cry underwater, but I was so wrong.

Water poured inside of me and I tried to cough but could barely even breathe.

I was more scared than I'd ever thought possible. Was I going to die?

Suddenly I felt someone grab my waist and I felt myself rising to the surface. I couldn't open my eyes, but I could tell that the light had gotten brighter.

I could hear panic-stricken voices as though something had happened.

Was I dead? Was I dreaming?

This was not the way I expected my life to end.

After all, I was only seventeen.

And that was much too young to die.