Helen reached the stone barrier. She glanced over her shoulder, fully expecting Alen to be racing down the path to restrain her. When she saw him standing completely still, looking at his phone, a surge of impulse flooded her brain. She climbed the barrier and threw herself directly into the currents.
Splash!
A loud, clear impact shattered the quiet of the afternoon, instantly followed by the panicked screams of nearby park-goers. "Help! Someone just jumped into the river! Call an emergency crew!"
Alen snapped his head up at the commotion. Seeing the crowd rushing toward the bank and realizing Helen was nowhere to be seen, his eyes darkened. He suddenly remembered that she had never learned how to swim.
Cursing under his breath, he tore off his military overcoat, vaulted over the stone barrier, and dove straight into the cold river.
