On Perception

Hand-in-hand they stood on the river's edge. The waters eddied and swelled, but he had been told of easy footing. "Together we can make it," he said. She faithfully held his hand and followed along. A third of the way, she asked for a pause to rest a moment. He took the opportunity to choose his next steps and they continued. Halfway and she again needed pause. He reluctantly stopped and looked ahead. "I don't know if I can," she whispered as they stepped further into the swollen river. "You'll be fine, it's not as bad as you seem to think." was the last she heard before the torrents took her. He stood, amazed, ankle-deep, for he hadn't checked where she stepped.