The river water was icy cold, and a myriad of small ice floes swirled around them.
Their breath came out as puffs of white mist, lingering, then dissipating.
Nathaniel had jumped in too hastily, not shutting off the ferry's engine, and Cherry didn't know how to pilot; by now, the boat had drifted far in its course, and the shore was not close either.
At first, Purple Summers tried to move her limbs, but gradually, she lost her strength.
She didn't know if it was the medication in her system wearing off or if her hands and feet were numb from the icy water; she only felt Nathaniel desperately holding her up, the water occasionally flooding over her nose and into her lungs, causing fits of coughing.
The two struggled to swim in the water, impeded by clumps of ice. Yet, the ice was not thick enough to bear their weight and only served to drain their strength while also stripping away their body heat.
Eventually, even Nathaniel had little energy left.
He could not swim anymore.
