Chapter 2: The Slip
The excitement was contagious. Lily leaned forward, lifting Rosie toward the sea as if she could share the moment.
“Look, Rosie! Dolphins!”
A deck chair sat too close to the railing. Without thinking, Lily stepped onto it to get a better view.
Daniel saw it instantly.
“Lily, get down.”
“I’m fine!” she said, still smiling.
Then the wind came.
Sharp. Sudden.
Rosie slipped from her hands.
The doll bounced once and landed just beyond the railing.
“Rosie!”
Lily lunged forward.
Daniel moved at the same time, reaching—
But her foot slipped.
For one brief second, he caught the back of her hoodie.
Then she was gone.
Daniel hit the railing, looking down just in time to see a flash of pink disappear into the water below.
“Lily!”
People turned. Screams broke through the calm.
But Daniel didn’t hesitate.
He climbed the rail and jumped.
