The Second Time She Drowned, I Walked Away

Her scream pierced the suffocating haze of my drowning like a needle of ice.

My eyes flew open, and I looked toward the lake, where a noisy crowd had gathered.

"Help me! Help..."

Layla was flailing in the water. The instant our eyes met, a flicker of satisfaction crossed hers.

In my past life, I'd fallen for that desperate act without a second thought, jumped in, pulled her out, and given her CPR.

Three days later, she went live in tears, claiming I "pushed her in" and "tried to assault her."

She sobbed and held up chat screenshots. "He threatened me. He said if I didn't sleep with him, he'd post photos of him kissing me on a porn site... I can't live like this!"

The internet exploded.

People edited my photos with captions like "Rapist scum, die" and "Doxx his whole family," then spread them across every platform.

Michael Carter, the dean, looked conflicted as he tossed an expulsion notice at me. "The damage is too severe. For the university's reputation..."

I dragged my suitcase off campus in a daze, only to get a call from a neighbor back home whose voice shook with tears.

"Owen... your parents... they were let go from their jobs! Both of them are so depressed, they say they can't face anyone anymore..."

The phone slipped from my hand. The world went silent.

I walked back to that lake. The cold wrapped around me once more.

As consciousness faded, the last thing I saw was Layla's smiling face on my phone, her livestream showing over a hundred thousand viewers.

"Thank you all for helping me through the darkness... I'll carry your love with me and live my best life!"

"Owen! Save me! Please!"

The desperate cry yanked me out of the nightmare of my past life.

Layla was still "struggling" in the water, eyes locked on me, silently urging me to act.

I looked at her, and a cold smile slowly spread across my face.

Then, under the stunned gaze of everyone watching, I turned and walked away.

Behind me came her cracking scream and the panicked sounds of choking on water.

But I barely made it a few steps before a figure charged at me from the side, nearly knocking me into the bushes.

I looked up. It was my roommate, Cole Miller.

He'd pinched every penny to buy Layla one designer bag after another, yet she'd never even let him hold her hand. Everyone on campus knew him for it.

"Owen! Are you even human?!" He was right in my face, jabbing his finger so close it nearly poked my nose. "Everyone knows you're the star of the swim team! A classmate is fighting for her life and you just walk away?"

Whispers rippled through the crowd.

I brushed off my clothes, unfazed.

"So because I'm a good swimmer, I'm obligated to jump in? You're pre-med too. You know how terrifyingly strong drowning people can become when they're fighting to survive.

"If she grabs me and pulls me under, who takes responsibility then?" My gaze swept across the crowd before settling on Cole. "Sorry, but I value my life. If you want to help her, call a professional."

I turned to leave.

Cole's eyes went red with rage. He shoved me hard back toward the shore.

"Cut the act! When the academic building caught fire, you dove into the lake and pulled out a bunch of students who'd jumped in. That made you the big hero and got you a scholarship! Why weren't you scared of dying then?

"Oh, I get it now. When there's nothing in it for you, you'll just stand there and watch Layla drown! What a hypocrite!"

Countless stares dug into my back like nails.

I gave a thin smile and spoke coolly.

"Save someone and I'm a hero. Don't, and I'm the villain.

"Since you're so righteous, why don't you jump in and save her yourself?"