Water closed over my head. My arms swung wild, trying to find the surface. My lungs screamed. I reached out and grabbed at nothing, kicked but my feet found nothing solid.

Broken words reached me through the water. "...stand...your feet..."

It was just panic and the burn in my chest.

Then hands gripped me, wrapping around my waist. My body shot upward, air slamming back into my chest in broken, greedy gulps.

"I've got you. Breathe," he said, voice low against my ear.

I did-coughing, ...