The Silent Pool
The summer sun beat down on the Johnsons' backyard, casting shimmering diamonds on the inviting pool. Laughter, as bright and bubbly as the chlorine-scented air, filled the space. Eight-year-old Alex Thompson, a whirlwind of energy with a sun-kissed grin, was the heart of the party. Inseparable from Timmy Johnson, their bond was as strong as the summer heat. Alex was a water sprite, fearless and agile. He dove, splashed, and cannonballed with reckless abandon. Timmy, more cautious, was drawn into the fun by Alex's infectious enthusiasm. As the afternoon wore on, their laughter grew into a symphony, their bodies slick with a sheen of water. It was during a playful underwater contest that the day took a sinister turn. Timmy, in a moment of roughhousing, pushed Alex beneath the surface. The world contracted into a claustrophobic bubble as cold water engulfed him. Panic, a jagged claw, gripped his insides. Desperate gasps echoed in the silent, ...