The Rescue Diver Who Refused to Dive

As the top deep-sea rescue diver in the country, I received an urgent call for help.

The missing person was a ten-year-old, last seen in Gale Creek Bay.

Ten years ago, my sister, Sophia, accidentally fell into the same waters.

My then-girlfriend, Olivia, who was the diving team captain, promised me herself, "With me there, I'll definitely bring Sophia back safely."

But what she brought back was only Sophia's bloated body.

Later, I learned that during the dive, she had actually caught Sophia's hand but, wanting to give the credit to her partner, Marcus, she deliberately unclipped the safety line attached to Sophia.

After surfacing, Olivia cried, claiming she had done her best. Marcus, too, became a "rescue hero" through fabricated stories.

From that day on, I dropped out of college and trained to get my rescue diver license.

Over ten years, I'd done more than two hundred underwater rescues. One hundred ninety-three lives made it back to shore, alive, because of me.

I'd simulated the underwater conditions thousands of times, hoping that one day, no one else would suffer Sophia's fate.

But today, the command center sent a photo of the missing child to my phone.

I stared at the screen for a long time.

The childs mother stood on the shore, her face contorted in tears as she cried into the camera. I recognized her.

I flipped my phone face down on the table. I cant do this rescue. Im not going down.

Ethan, are you kidding me?

David, the dispatcher at the command center, chuckled, as if he genuinely didnt understand what I was saying.

Last year, during the floods, you dove alone into forty meters of murky water and pulled that kid out of the shipwreck, didnt you?

Youre the record holder for live underwater rescues. No offense, but if you say you cant go down, then no one in this country can!

He paused, a hint of playfulness still in his voice.

Youre telling me you cant handle this level of a rescue?

Im not kidding.

Ethan

Im serious. I cant take this mission. Find someone else, dont waste time with me.

After that, I hung up.

But before I could even zip up my gear bag, the door burst open.

Hayes practically stumbled in, his forehead slick with sweat.

Ethan, he braced himself against the doorframe, his chest heaving, You you cant leave yet.

Hayes, theres nothing to discuss.

Just hear me out first.

He closed the door, leaning his back against it as if afraid Id walk right out.

You know Gale Creek Bays conditions. Our regular teams have been searching for two hours. Three teams have rotated through, and they havent found a trace.

He paused, lowering his voice.

The boy whos missing, his dad is Marcus, the owner of the biggest commercial diving equipment company in the country. His mom, Olivia, she used to be a diving team captain, too.

Without their funding for the rescue team all these years, where would we get all this top-notch equipment

Then use the equipment to search.

I cut him off. Since the underwater search equipment is so advanced, its not like I absolutely have to go down.

I picked up my bag, ready to leave, but Hayes rushed forward and grabbed my arm, holding it tight.

All the equipment has been used! Sonar cant reach all the blind spots, we still need divers to search by hand!

Ethan, if we werent utterly desperate, I wouldnt be begging you.

I didnt respond. Hayes paced frantically, stomping his foot.

Ethan, are you worried about safety?

Gale Creek Bay is dangerous, I admit, but I guarantee you, the shore support is top-tier.

Dry suits, spare oxygen tanks, underwater comms C whatever you need, Ill get you. Ill stake my life on your safety!

Hayes, its not a safety issue.

Then what is it?

Personal reasons.

Personal

His voice rose a notch. Ethan, theres a ten-year-old kid down there, and youre telling me personal reasons?

By then, the news of my refusal to dive had spread.

Rescue team members gathered in small groups around the doorway.

Ethan, youre the benchmark for our rescue team! If you dont take it, who else would dare?

What kind of legend? Stop praising him. I think hes just a coward, scared to die.

Curses erupted, one after another.

I showed no expression, glancing down at my watch.

Hayes, youve wasted another five minutes.

I dont want this mission. You can find someone else. Time is running out. I suggest you start the rescue immediately.

Ignoring their attempts to stop me, I turned to leave without a word.

A voice from the back of the crowd rang out.

Ethan, your sister she died in Gale Creek Bay, didnt she? How can you be so heartless, just leaving someone to die?!

I froze, my heart clutched by an invisible hand.

The phone screen was still lit, showing the ten-year-old boy smiling, his front teeth visible.

The exact same age as Sophia had been

I closed my eyes. If Olivia hadn't unclipped her safety line back then, would everything have been different?

Suddenly, the commotion in the crowd pulled me back to reality.

A man in an expensive designer suit strode forward.

He didnt even look at me. He just opened his wallet and started throwing stacks of cash at me.

Whats the problem with going down?

You just want money, right? Come on! Name your price!

Is this the guy you found for me?

Marcus turned his head, glancing at Hayes, his voice full of disdain.

He then looked me up and down, a mocking sneer on his face.

So youre the top underwater rescue diver now?

Well, Ill be damned. This is quite a sight.

So-called rescue heroes, just holding another familys childs life hostage for a payout.

He moved closer, pulling out his phone again.

Still not enough? Name a number! I can transfer it right away. A hundred thousand? Half a million? Whatever it takes to save my son, any amount is fine.

Everyone in the hallway gasped, marveling at his generosity.

I didnt move. I just stared, lost in thought, at the medal pinned to his chest.

Ten years. The honor gained from my sisters death, still displayed on him.

Following my gaze, he glanced at the designtwo hands cradling a lifeand chuckled contemptuously.

What? Envious?

Im not like a diver of your caliber. This medal, I earned it with my life.

Ten years ago, right here in Gale Creek Bay! Visibility underwater was almost zero, and my wife and I dove in without a second thought to start the rescue.

He placed himself on a moral high ground.

Unlike some people, who, just because they have some skill, exploit peoples desperation.

I glared at him, only a few words escaping my throat.

Did you save her?

Marcuss expression stiffened for a second, but he quickly assumed a defensive posture.

In those conditions, no one could guarantee a hundred percent success

I let out a soft, bitter laugh. So, you didnt save her, did you?

I am indeed different from you. Without absolute certainty, I wont just dive in. And I certainly wont easily drag crying family members on shore from hope to despair!

I forced him to meet my gaze, but it was clear hed long forgotten that I was the man standing on that shore, waiting for Sophia to be brought up that day.

He grew enraged, grabbing my collar.

Dont care if I saved her or not, at least I wasnt a coward! You dont even dare to go in the water, what right do you have to judge me here?

The murmuring around us grew louder.

Mr. Marcus is right. At least he put his life on the line ten years ago. Ethan talks a big game, but when it matters, hes just a greedy coward.

Accusatory stares felt like needles piercing my back.

Everyone thought I was avaricious, selfish, and cold-blooded.

I ignored them, until a woman stumbled in.

Her hair was disheveled, her makeup streaked by tears.

Ten years had passed, and even now, in her disarray, time hadn't left many marks on her face.

The woman who had vehemently promised to bring Sophia back safely, yet personally pushed her into the abyss, stood before me.

I unconsciously clenched my fists.

She didn't even truly look at me, instead grabbing Marcus's arm, signaling him to step back, then turned to face me.

Please.

Hayes said youre the rescue teams last hope. I dont know you, but I choose to trust you!

My child is still underwater. Hes only ten. Hes terrified of the dark, and he needs to hear my voice every night to fall asleep.

Tears dripped from her chin.

If you just go down, Ill do whatever you ask. Anything, any price.

I took a deep breath, the emotions suppressed for ten years churning in my chest.

Perhaps this price was greater than they could imagine. Would they still insist then?

Finally, I spoke, my voice low.

I can agree to come to the site with you.

Olivia was overjoyed, grabbing my hand and exclaiming.

Oh, thank God, thats wonderful! Your name is Ethan, right?

She paused, a little hesitant. No matter what your name is, my husband and I will be so grateful.

I cut her off. Dont misunderstand. I agreed to go to the site, not to go in the water.

Ten years. I stood on the riverbank of Gale Creek Bay once more.

The ground was covered with equipment: multi-dimensional sonar, high-power underwater lights, three top-of-the-line rescue boats on standby.

A dozen experts huddled around a folding table, pointing at hydrographic charts.

This is Mr. Marcuss child! We have to save him, no matter the cost!

I stood outside the crowd, looking at the scene, and suddenly felt a lump in my throat.

Ten years ago, Sophia fell into the same waters.

But on the shore, there was only one inflatable boat, a few ordinary safety ropes, and Olivias empty promise.

Today, because it was Marcuss son lying at the bottom,

the entire command center could mobilize so much equipment within two hours.

What about Sophias life then? What was it worth?

At most, it was just a stepping stone for them to gain fame and fortune.

Even if they only retrieved a bloated body, they could still wear the halo of "rescue heroes," attract investors, start businesses, and rake in cash in the business world.

At that moment, the rescue personnel on site gathered around, their faces grim.

Based on underwater air pressure and the childs equipment capacity, the rescue window is only twenty minutes. The child is running low on oxygen. If we dont go down now, hell be gone for good!

Ethan, since youre already here, why dont you go down now?

Countless mouths opened and closed before me, but I shook my head.

You have the most advanced sonar in the country here, a top-tier medical team, and all these experts.

Besides, didnt the childs parents also participate in the Gale Creek Bay rescue ten years ago? If anyone should go down, it certainly isnt me.

Olivia seemed to not have expected me to suddenly bring up the past.

She looked up at me, tears streaming down her face, her lips trembling.

Yes, we went down back then, but we were injured after that rescue and moved behind the scenes. Technically, we cant even enter the core area now!

Perhaps with a guilty conscience, she suddenly collapsed to her knees.

Her knees hit the ground with a dull thud.

Mr. Ethan, please, I beg you. I admit we werent skilled enough. We dont deserve the title of rescue heroes, but our child is innocent!

Im begging you, if youll just go down, Ill do anything!

She frantically banged her head against the ground, her forehead instantly red and swollen.

Please go down! Save my son!

Her gut-wrenching cries instantly ignited the anger of the surrounding crowd.

Ethan! Are you even human?! How can you treat a grieving mother like this?

Ethan, youre too selfish!

Shes kneeling to you, and youre still playing hard to get!

Several emotional team members rushed forward, grabbing my arms, desperately trying to push me into the water.

Youre going down today!

Malice washed over me from all sides, like a crushing tide.

I spoke, my voice hoarse.

You all want me to go down so badly?

But even if I do go down, even if I reach your child

How do you know I wont also let go?