Isabella and Drew were best friends, they were the kind of friends that are hard to come by, almost too rare to be explained. They wanted to spend their last summer together doing something adventurous. They would be leaving for college soon, two separate sides of the country. They desperately needed today to be memorable, a moment in their friendship that would never be forgotten.

“I want this camping trip to be perfect, Drew.” Isabella exclaimed as they made it to the edge of the river.” The river was vast, deep and unapologeticly loud.

“I hope you don’t think we’re crossing that.” Drew chuckled. Isabella looked at him, a determined, mischievous glint danced around in her eyes.

“The current is too fast, Bella, we can’t cross that.” Drew exclaimed over the roaring sound of the River.

“Are you scared?” She teased.

Drew chuckled, but it lacked humor. “Yes, you should be scared too. That river is a death trap.” Drew said.

Isabella made her way in slowly. She stood in the middle. The water reached her hips, cold and unwaveringly fast. “Just come on Drew, we’ve made it all this way.” She yelled back to him.

Before Drew could respond, the river’s current threw its first punch. Isabella tried to steady her legs, but they got pulled underneath her. “Bella!” Drew yelled. Isabella yelled back, but it was muffled behind the angry roar of the water. Drew couldn’t hear or see her anymore, so of course, he jumped in after her.

It all happened seemingly quick. Isabella blinked rapidly as she adjusted her eyes. They had made it. She turned to her right and saw Drew, sitting up and coughing.

“Drew, Drew we made it across.” She cheered, shaking him in excitement.

“How?” Drew asked.

“Who cares how? Isabella shrugged. “We did it.”

They both collapsed to the ground. Isabella let out a long breath. “See, told you we could do it.” She boasted. Drew rolled his eyes in defeat. If Isabella had her mind set on something, it would always be conquered.

The sun was starting to set, making its way home to allow the moon to start its shift. The camp grounds were near by. Isabella stood up, grabbing her backpack.

“Come on Drew we need to get to the campgrounds before the sun goes down.”

Drew slowly stood up, but he didn’t respond, he didn’t even look at her. He was looking past her. “Bella?” He whispered. The tone in his voice alerted Isabella, she quickly looked to him and her heart sunk. Drew’s eyes were widen and his face pale. She turned around and followed his gaze behind her and that’s when she saw it. A figure, standing about a feet away, watching or waiting?

Isabella grabbed Drew’s arm as they both kept their eyes fixed onto the figure ahead. “Can we help you?” Isabella yelled to the figure. Nothing. Silence, not even a movement.

“We should go back.” Drew whispered. Before Isabella could respond, the figure began to move, slowly. Isabella glanced back at the river, the current was stronger now. Too strong to cross back. Too strong to run through. She turned back forward and the figure was even closer. Drew grabbed Isabella’s hand tightly. “What’s the plan?” He whispered. “Let’s just see what he wants.” She whispered back.

The figure got closer and they were able to get a better look at him. He was tall, very tall. He had on a long black cloak and a top hat to match. He seemed out of place, as if he were from a different time, a different world. There wasn’t time for fight or flight, only freeze. They were frozen in place, frozen in fear. The figure was close now, right in front of them, in fact. Isabella tilted her head up to look at him. His eyes were a piercing blue.

“It’s a miracle you two were able to cross, most people don’t.” Said the figure. His voice was deep and rich and it sent chills down their spines.

The figure looked between the two of them and tilted his head slightly. “You’re looking for the camping grounds.” He stated, rather than asked.

Isabella nodded slowly. “Uh- yes, we are.” She said reluctantly.

Drew squeezed her hand a bit tighter. “I can lead the way if you’d like.” The figure stated. Isabella and Drew looked at each other, wordlessly having a conversation. The figure watched patiently at this interaction. They turned back to look at him.

“What is your name?” Drew asked. The figure chuckled slightly.

“You can call me Thaniel.” He replied.

“And you know the way to the camp ground, Thaniel?” Isabella asked.

Thaniel nodded before turning away and walking off into the forest. “Follow if you want, otherwise you’ll be lost.” He called back to them. They looked to each other and nodded before following behind Thaniel. Isabella glanced back to the river one last time.

Thaniel was a few steps ahead, Isabella and Drew fell into step behind him. It was quiet for a while. The three of them didn’t speak. Isabella noticed that it was a bit too quiet. There were no animals, no sounds of crunching on the leaves or frogs or anything, even the wind seemed nonexistent.

“Hey Thaniel, what were you doing out here anyway?” Isabella asked.

“I live here.” Thaniel said plainly.

“Alone?” Drew asked.

“Well I guess that depends on what you consider alone to be.” Thaniel replied with a chuckle. They continued to follow him in silence for what felt like hours. Everything seemed to be going okay for a while until Isabella realized something.

“We haven’t drank any water.” She said to Drew.

“I’m not thirsty.” He shrugged.

“Neither am I.” She replied, as confusion sat present on her face.

Drew glanced over to her “So what?”

“I dont know, just figured we’d be thirsty by now.” She muttered.

Thaniel stopped in his tracks and turned to face them. “Let’s take a break.” He chimed before sitting down next to a tree. The pair followed suit and sat down across from him.

Thaniel looked at them for a moment, as if he was studying them. Then he spoke again.

“Tell me something, how long have you two been friends?” He inquired.

“Since we were five.” Drew answered.

“Well that is quite impressive, most friendships don’t last that long.” Thaniel exclaimed. Drew nodded and looked at Isabella, but her mind was elsewhere.

“Is everything alright?” Thaniel asked.

“It’s just quiet.” Isabella exclaimed.

Thaniel hummed in response.

“Tell me, what made you two decide to camp tonight of all nights?” Thaniel asked.

“We uh-” Drew started. He looked to Isabella and then back to Thaniel. “I don’t really remember why.”

Isabella looked around the forest, still lost in confusion. “College.” She stated.

“College?” Thaniel asked. “That’s amazing, what do you plan to study?”

Isabella began to answer, but stopped herself. She didn’t know.

“I can’t really remember much of anything, except for the river.” She uttered.

“Yeah. It’s the same for me. I cant really remember details, but I know we’re excited about college.” Drew assured.

Thaniel sighed softly before speaking. “Can you try to remember anything else?”

Isabella thought for a second, but found herself growing angry at her own mind. She couldn’t remember. “Who are you really?” She sneered. Thaniel paused for a moment looking at the two of them, before offering a soft smile.

“A guide.” Thaniel answered.

“What does that mean?” Drew asked.

Thaniel placed his hands in his lap. “I’m here to guide those who have crossed.” He informed.

“Crossed what?” Isabella asked.

Thaniel pointed towards the river, the river that had stopped moving completely. “The boundary.”

The two of them blinked in confusion and then it happened. Their memories, it was like a flood of sorts in their minds. Like a movie trailer for their lives. Many moments jumbled down into one. A highlight of the best and worst of their short lives.

Isabella quickly stood up, her hand grasped at her shirt. “We- we survived the river, we made it through.” She blurted. Thaniel shook his head slowly and softly.

Isabella looked to Drew. “Right Drew?”

Drew didn’t answer at first, he just looked at her.

It was quiet for a moment before he decided to speak. “The current was too strong, Bella. You- you started to drown.”

Memories began to press in. The icy drag of the water, Isabella’s scream for help cut short, the burn in Drew’s chest as he reached for her one last time.

Isabella’s eyes widened. “I- I remember.” She whispered as she sat back down. “I was pulled under, I couldn’t breathe, I couldn’t even think. And then- nothing.” She mumbled.

“You drowned.” Thaniel stated softly.

Isabella’s voice broke as she turned to look at Drew. “And you-”

“I went in after you.” Drew murmured.

The truth hung heavy between the two of them, but Isabella wasn’t ready to accept it, not yet.

“No, no we made it through we-” She turned to face Thaniel. “Why on earth should we believe you?” She asked, fury and grief blazing.

Thaniel took off his hat and his cloak, finally revealing himself fully. His face was lined with weariness, his eyes were kind as though he had seen many of souls struggle in this exact way.

“Because I have stood next to this river for longer than the two of you can imagine. And every poor soul says the same words at first. “We survived.”

Tears blurred Drew’s vision and Isabella covered her mouth, shaking her head slightly. They knew it was true, they could feel it. Thaniel stepped closer, his voice softer now. “You are not lost. You are not alone. I am here to take the both of you to where you must go. But first, I need you to accept where you are.”

Drew turned to Isabella, his best friend. The girl that had protected him from bullies, had dared him into every reckless adventure, the only constant thing in his life. He reached out and grabbed her hand.

“We’re together”, he whispered. “That’s what matters most.”

She looked at him, her eyes brimming. She saw the look in his eyes and the fight left her. She squeezed his hand and nodded.

Thaniel nodded once with a faint smile on his lips. “Then you are ready.” He declared.

He lifted his hand and the forest beyond them shifted, light began to spill through the trees. It wasn’t a blinding light, it was soft. Like dawn breaking in after the longest night. Like peace.

Isabella leaned against Drew. “Promise me something?”

“Anything.”

“Don’t let go.”

Drew squeezed her hand. “Never.”

Together, they stepped forward.

Thaniel walked with them, steady and sure leading them deeper into the light. The river began to roar again behind them, but it didn’t sound angry, it sounded like a lullaby.