She felt the cool water hit her face as the strength in her limbs gave out and she collapsed into the water. She was fully immersed for a moment, her eyes staring at the stones on the river bed twinkling in the sunlight. Were the stones real? If she reached out to touch one, would she feel their smoothness on her skin, or would they dissipate like smoke and leave her floating alone in nothingness?

            Strong hands grabbed her shoulders, pulling her out of the water. She coughed and sputtered, her body able to breathe once more, but she had no strength left to fight whoever was holding her. T...

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