Page 59 of All He Sees

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She could hear the waves.

She could smell the beach.

She could see it.

She could see it.

The sand was right there.

She could feel it.

She could see it.

She could reach it.

And she did.

She pulled herself up onto the beach, her feet sinking into the sand, pulling Rachel up with her.

She rolled onto her back, gasping for air.

She'd done it.

She'd survived.

Rolling Rachel onto her back, Nicky performed CPR. She pressed down into her chest, hard, over and over again.

"You're okay, you're okay..." she told Rachel. She needed Rachel to wake up. She put two fingers in Rachel's mouth, checking for air. She pinched her nose and breathed into Rachel's mouth twice. She tilted Rachel's head back and pressed her sternum. She checked for air. She breathed twice more into Rachel's mouth.

And she checked for air again.

And again.

And again.

Until Rachel coughed up water. Nicky sat up, pulling Rachel up with her.

"Rachel, you're okay," Nicky said, helping her sit up. "I'm here. You're safe." Rachel looked at Nicky, confused.

"Lyons?" she asked.

"Yeah. I'm here. We made it."

"What about--"

Now that she knew Rachel was safe, Nicky realized Ken and Danny were still out there. Nicky looked out into the water.

She didn't see them.

No. Nicky's heart pulled as the worst possibilities ran through her mind. What if Ken didn't make it? What if he wasn't able to swim with Danny to the surface?

What if they both drowned?

"Nicky?" Rachel said.

"Ken--Danny--they're out there. I need to make sure they're okay."

There was only one way to find out.

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