THIS TOO SHALL PASS

[Demo]

The man stood by the river, staring out into the water as the boy flailed in the rapids. The boy screamed out for help and then sunk beneath the water again. The man turned, prepared to walk off into the forest, but then the boy bobbed up in the waves again, clutching at a rock. He stared for a moment more, waiting to see if the boy would drown. The boy was pulled under the water again.

The man began to walk away when the boy reached the surface once more releasing one last scream for help. He sighed, set down his bag and dove into the water, swimming for the boy. For a moment, neither the man nor the boy was visible beneath the water. Then the white bubbles turned red. A body floated to the surface, catching on rocks every so often before disappearing into the current.

A moment later, he flopped onto the floor next to the bags. Climbing to his feet, he reached down and sorted through the gear. Satisfied with the find, the boy lifted up the bags and walked away.


*****


The year is