The frozen lake cracked beneath his feet, staring in disbelief. “Oh dear”. It was at this moment he realized he fucked up. ‘What did you expect?’, his heart questioning his mind. The ice is dark and empty reflecting the gloomy and gray December day. “Don't panic” his thoughts repeated between his ears, truth be told; he was screaming deep inside staring into his own eyes. The fracture grew wider, Rizzen watching as the ice began to separate right beneath his feet. “Bullshit Bullshit” he mumbled frozen in place as if he had met fate, here on this very lake. Cursing his clumsy misstep, Rizzen prepared for what was to come next. Splintering no more, Rizzen fell through the cracks, disappearing into the brine. The pain of the sun was what the ice had done, but the water would drown him soon enough. Time stood still as Rizzen looked and searched, but the ice resembled the sky; underneath he slowly succumbed to his own stupidity.


She walked the path along the edge enjoying the peace of winter. The snow dampened the sounds allowing her clarity within serenity. Everything for her was great that day, but soon it would change. From the corner of her eye she saw a man walking on the icy lake. Amazed, she stood and watched, wondering ‘what the fuck?’ Faith just happened to be walking by at the right time. “FUCKING BULLSHI!!!” was all he cried as he suddenly dropped.


Never once hesitating in her life, Faith ran across the snow covered bank. Miraculously the snow held its own as she sprinted from the path, reaching the ice she slipped, sliding almost as if being divinely guided. Stopping inches from the hole, peering into the frozen lake, her reflection returned her gaze. Reaching her arm in, she grabbed a handful of hair. Her mind laughed as she dragged him to the surface, by his head.


In moments of extreme duress humanity can achieve outlandish things, while at the same time causing immeasurable destruction, such as this situation here. Her strength held true just as the light of the moon, pulling his arm over her, she rolled somehow pulling him out. Faith begins CPR, furious at this idiot for risking it all, almost killing her, anger fuels her movements, he doesn't respond.


Knowing she had to, reluctantly she placed her lips to his, breathing new life into him. Coughing and spitting, he rolled over confused and disoriented, hypothermia began to set in. Dazed and confused he lays back, meeting her gaze. Golden eyes that swirled and twirled, ‘fuck, I died’ his mind realized. “Fancy meeting you here” he barely whispered, “come here often?” Anger surges through as Faith stared at this fool.


Thinking of something in rebuttal, his eyes rolled back as he went into the black. Sirens wailed in the distance allowing Faith a moment to collect what just happened. The firefighters recovered him without fail, that day he fell in the lake. Rizzen regained consciousness on the gurney in the back of the ambulance, covered in blankets. Seeing the EMT, Rizzen mutters, “Where is she?” Looking at the man that almost died, confusion within his mind the EMT answered, “Where's who?”


The EMT stared emotionless as he declared “we will return in 3, 2, 1” Rizzen’s eyes blinked as he realized he was in therapy, laying on the funny shaped couch. His eyes were wet and teary having been guided through meditation to the day he almost died. “One may block traumatic and dangerous situations, the mind handles it subconsciously as you can see” The therapist smiles reassuringly, “like the ice you fell through that day, I'm afraid your emotions are the same. One may freeze their emotions in an effort to not feel life” the therapist continues, “Only upon directly confronting the moment we block our emotions with our thoughts, can we find where we left ourselves” Staring up at the ceiling all Rizzen could think of, was the woman who saved him from himself.


The therapist droned on, “we think blocking the emotions will eradicate and erase the memory, the memory still remains just as you to this day” Sitting up Rizzen stared off past the wall, “So, that day I almost died I blocked my emotions?” He questioned the therapist. Shaking his head, “No, I'm afraid it's not that easy.”


Leaning in, the therapist removed his glasses, rubbing the bridge on his nose. “That day you almost died Rizzen, was a truly traumatic situation, and you survived” Leaning back the therapist crosses his leg over the other. “it was a moment you didn't want to process because you didn't understand, so your mind shielded this memory from interfering in an effort to protect itself” Rizzen blinks confusion setting in, “it was a terrifying moment for many involved, something no one would want to experience, your mind blocked it and that's why you have been so scared to live, a fear of life.”


Rizzen blinks his epiphany setting in, excitement surging through his veins, for the first time in his life since he almost died there on that lake. The therapist checked his watch, “I am sorry but we are out of time, the receptionist will meet you for payment, good session, I think we have finally made progress!” The therapist proudly smiles. Rizzen collected himself and looked around, “thank you my friend” he said warmly as he shook the therapist's hand.


Rizzen still didn't understand what happened that day or who that woman was; he never even got a name. The therapist smiled as he watched Rizzen leave through the door, still trying to unpack all that he had learned. The receptionist smiled warmly, radiating love as she beamed at Rizzen. Handing him a tissue, a smile curled her lips, “Just tell people you got soap in your eyes, it will all be fine” winking at him, Rizzen smiled for the first time since that day he'd almost died, walking on the frozen lake. Laughing as he left the therapist’s, never to return to that place.