She held on to the fragile branch with a death's grip as the roaring water threatened to drag her away.
She gasped, the bubbling swirls entering her mouth. There was no hope left...

She had to let go.

"Why!" she cursed herself, as the currents carried her deeper into the forest.
"Why did I have to run away?"
She was just a little girl.

...

Earlier that morning, it was as usual. Her father came home intoxicated from a night's merriment with his mates.
"You stupid woman!" He yelled at her mother, who was trying her best to hurry for work after feeding him and tucking him to bed.
"Poor mom", thought she, with tears in her eyes.
"If only I were a...