[Dexter]

The soft, pudgy little fingers were sliding away. Why couldn't I grab her? She's right there! I stretched out farther, holding onto the exposed tree-root by my fingertips. I could feel my grip failing on the rainslick, muddy thing. My backpack slid and hit the back of my head. My balance waivered under the sudden shift in weight and I lost my footing. I started to fall and had to kick violently into the muddy clay. She...she started to scream when we lost contact. I screamed too.
No! Shannon! No....
She was past me and falling away into the darkness. My baby.
My baby.
What could I do? I leaped after her. My right knee twisted and gave as I did and I spun awkwardly after her. The backpack half-pinned my arm to my side but I reached out to her screams. I stretched for all I was worth.
Shannon!