Surviving the River

We had been taken by the current down the river.
My friend grabbed my arm.
In fear she hung on tight,
so tight it hurt. I let her hang on.
The water was cold and fast.
The boulders rumbled as they
bumped together.
She kept hanging on..

Being weak and tired
I knew that if she continued
to hang on to me,
we would both be taken downstream,
Never to return.
I could have pryed her loose
to save myself,
but I wanted her to be safe also...

I would teach her to stay afloat
by herself.
Then we could each save ourselves.