Chapter 3

The El Verde, as it was dubbed, runs southwards, a few miles outside Nueva Casa. Farther down, it turns west and empties into the ocean. There, it is known by a different name, but not one of consequence. It was not a particularly impressive river, too small for shipping, but not yet polluted by industry, it is suitable for fishing and swimming.

North of Nueva Casa lies a path that led to an area where the river had been dammed off with concrete, forming a large swimming hole. In Nueva Casa, it was a common pastime to go down to the swimming hole, cook out, and drink. Summer had nearly come and passed, and winter loomed threatening in the distance. The residents of Sophia’s orphanage were keen on visiting it together once more before the weather began to shift.

On the first Sunday in September, Sophia paid for them to take a bus north to the point where they could walk to the hole. Osito had brought meats, onions, and charcoal for grilling. They planned to spend the day there, enjoying a much needed vacation. Rico brimmed with excitement for the day ahead of them. Andrea appeared unmoved.

Upon arriving, Jesus observed about a dozen other adults and children at the hole and the clearing that laid beside it. They weren’t the only ones who had the idea to go swimming today. His group set up camp by a charcoal grill. The younger kids were excited to get into the water quickly. Enrique, Miriam, Andrea, and Jesus were content to relax and help cook the meats. Osito had brought steak and chicken, and he was busy rubbing them both down with seasoning. Enrique leaned over to Christian, I bet you won’t jump off the cliff.”

“Watch me,” He said, getting up. Christian kicked off his shoes and shirt and jumped in. Miriam was watching him intently. He swam over to the rocks on the other side of the pool and clambered up.

Carefully, he maneuvered himself onto a narrow path that led up to the ledge. Christian sidestepped on the slim footing and climbed up a couple of small caves until he was perched on the ledge. Then, after he had ensured that everyone was watching, he jumped. He flew through the air, down from the ledge, and collided with the water with a mighty splash.

Pretty soon, everyone climbing up to the point and jumping in. Jesus had known how to swim since he was small, and so had most of the other kids at Sophia’s orphanage. Living so close to the coast, it was almost a necessity. Jesus lazily backstroked across the width of the water and slipped over the rocks, behind Andrea and Enrique.

“Come on, Miriam! Give it a shot,” He called. She bashfully shook her head, scared of the considerable drop.

“I don’t know, Jesus, it seems too high,” She said. Jesus shrugged and followed the others up the rock face. The holds were small and slick, but they took care to traverse the path without mistake.

Finally, Jesus arrived at the perch after watching Enrique and Christian take the leap. He looked over the pool below, suddenly hesitant.

“Come on man, jump!” Christian said from below.

Ok, I can do this.

Jesus took a breath to steady himself, found his footing, bent his knees, and jumped. He flew straight out, landed with a mighty splash, and sank down almost all the way to the bottom of the hole.

Down there, in the darkness, he found a surprising stillness, surrounded by a silver bubble shower sparking upwards around him. Time seemed to loosen its grasp on the world, and his life suddenly felt distant and inconsequential. If he could stay here, alone with his thoughts, far away from Rodrigo, from the Orphanage and Miriam, he would, but soon his lungs compelled him to return to the surface.

On the darkest evening of the year.

He kicked, propelling himself upwards towards the surface. With a row of his arms, he crested the water and popped up, surrounded by his friends.

“Nice one, man,” Said Enrique. Jesus grinned and swam towards the edge of the water. Now, only he, Enrique, and Miriam were left in the water. The rest were making their way out towards the food Osito had, by the smell of it, almost finished preparing. “Come on out, let’s eat,” Enrique said, pushing himself up onto the wooden ledge.

“I think I’m going to stay in and swim for a little bit longer,” Jesus said back.

“Suit yourself,” Enrique said, hopping up the hill. The water felt great, and now that Jesus had a chance to enjoy it, he found himself relaxing.

“That was a good jump,” Said Miriam.

“Thanks. Are you sure you don’t want to try it?”

“No, I’m certain.”

“Well, want to race over there?” Jesus said, pointing to a rock on the other side of the pool.

Miriam looked across the pool to the place he had indicated, “Okay,” she said, “You ready?”

“No, let me swim over towards you,” He replied.

“Ok, go!” She announced suddenly, not giving him time to catch up.

“Hey!” He yelled after her, and began to swim fiercely. They tore across the water, two strong swimmers determined to win. Miriam had a sizeable head start, but Jesus was gaining steadily. He glanced up from his stroke, judging the distance to the finish line. Miriam still had the advantage on him, but the gap was closing, and if he could just swim a little faster, he thought, he could make it. With a mighty effort, he frantically propelling himself through the water with so much determination that, when he reached the large rock at the edge of the water, he almost slammed into it head on. His fingers touched the rock just in time to slow himself. At the same moment, Miriam reached the rock, and they both stopped, breathing hard and holding on to the rock.

When the couple finally caught their breath, Jesus said, “I think it was a tie.”

“You had better swim faster next time,” She said, playfully kicking off and backstroking across the water. Here, the river began to move faster towards the small dam.

“It wasn’t fair, you had a head start,” He replied. He planted his feet on the dam and stood up at an angle against the current of the water rushing towards the ledge. It was a cocky move, betting against the dangerous, strong current of the water, but Jesus was sure of his strength and footing, energized by the race. He stood and let the water rush over his head and shoulders, testing him. He was so focused on himself that he didn’t notice when Miriam swam up to the dam as well and attempted to copy his move.

She tried to plant her feet on the concrete, but faltered, and the rushing water swept her over the edge. Jesus watched, shocked, and she fell across the lip of the dam, and caught herself, hanging by her arms. There was an expression of utter terror on her face, eyes wide as saucers. Immediately, Jesus stepped towards her and reached down to try and pull her up, but the current was too strong, and he lost his footing. He was pulled over too, and caught himself, hanging on the edge next to Miriam.

“Help!” She cried out. The others were out of sight, and too far away to hear her calls. They were alone, helpless against the unrelenting current of the water. It crashed into them and washed over them as they struggled to hang on. Jesus tried to muscle his way back over the edge, crawling with his elbows, but the force was too strong. Again and again, he failed to haul his body across the edge.

This is it. I can’t make it.

“We have to let go!” Miriam yelled over the noise of the crashing water. Jesus looked down.

The drop was only about ten feet, but the rutted rocks at the bottom looked unforgiving.

“I can’t!” Jesus said, terrified.

“We have to,” She replied, “That way we can control the fall. I’ll go first and you go after me.”

So now you’re the brave one?

She let go and fell down to the rocks, landing on her feet before falling on her ass.

“I’m okay!” She shouted, and got out the way.

Jesus let go. When he landed, his left foot failed to find a grip, and slipped on the rocks. His foot caught on a ledge as he fell down, and a blinding, terrible pain seized his leg. He screamed in agony as he toppled to the rocks. Miriam slipped and slid over to him. The look on her face told Jesus that he was hurt, badly.

“Oh God, Jesus, your leg is broken. Oh God, oh God,” She repeated. Through the pain, Jesus mustered the power to sit up and look at this leg. He wished he hadn’t. The bone was sticking jaggedly out of his skin at an unnatural angle. Torn cartilage and soft tissue dangled uselessly from the gash.

Water pounded down on top of him, mixing with the blood.

“Please get help,” Jesus said.

“I can’t leave you here,” She said, and tried to pull him out from under the pinning cascade. He pushed with his intact leg, but the moment that his broken leg moved, white hot agony shot through him.

“Stop! Wait!” He exclaimed, “Go get Osito and Senora! Hurry!” Miriam hesitated for a moment.

“Just hang on, okay?” Miriam said, “I can’t leave you here!” “You have to! Just go.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes! Just go!”

“I’ll be right back, I promise” She scampered over the rocks and ran through the water, up the hill, and out of sight. The pain was incredible. Jesus clenched his teeth and crawled on his back, using his elbows to inch his way out slowly from under the waterfall. With every tiny movement, his leg exploded in pain. He called out, but no one was there to hear. He forced himself to keep going, bit by bit pulling himself and his wounded leg.

When he pulled his leg directly into the path of the oncoming water, a searing sensation consumed his leg, and he instinctively heaved back the way he had come, trying to relieve the burning pain. His mind would simply not allow himself to be freed from under this waterfall. Consciousness was wearing thin, and his mind began to completely shut down as shock set in.

“Hold on Jesus, we’re coming!” Shouted Senora. Osito bounded down the hill and onto the rocks at the bottom of the dam, closely followed by Senora and the others. With no regard for the pouring water, Osito scooped Jesus off the ground and cradled him back onto dry ground.

“We need to bind the wound here so you don’t lose any more blood. When we get back to Nueva Casa, they will set the bone,” Osito told him. Jesus nodded. He felt powerless and terrified. It was the worst pain he had ever experienced.

“Christian, Enrique, run back to the bus stop and flag somebody down. We have to get him back to town. I know a good doctor there. Andrea, get me a cloth to wrap his leg. Miriam, help me prop up his leg,” He commanded, taking control of the situation. “Stay awake, Jesus! We have you!” But the edges of his vision were closing in. It was so easy to let go, so easy.