 Now the old water tower on the outskirts of this shithill town has been derelict for ages. It's amazing they haven't torn the damn thing down yet. I reach up for the next rung which groans in response to the unexpected wait before snapping off entirely. I managed to catch myself with the last second but my GoPro isn't so lucky. It makes a soft plop in the snow below. Well there goes my perfect fucking selfie. It was a close call though, so I take a second to catch my breath before I steal my nerves and continue my ascent. I can't turn back now, stick to the plan. I'm going to be remembered for this. I clamber onto the platform and I'm greeted with an oversized grin. Arrival school's idiotic mascot. His face is weathered and peeling. Good thing it's about to get a brand new paint job. All I need to decide is exactly how many dicks I should add. Time to get to work. Just one more. Ooh let's have this one splooching all over it. Pink. And I think I was going to do a pink paint. Give him some missing teeth. Oh it looks just like those inbred jackoffs. A little bit more and done. I stand back and admire my creation and all its glory. In just a few hours people will wake up to their beloved avatar being assaulted by a group of floating penises as if it were the star of a haunted bukkake. Now all I need to do is snap some pics for the guys to prove that yes I am that fucking badass. So I whip out my cell and I get to work lamenting the fact that I can't post these online. Hashtag thecasso. It's a good time as any first smoke. Go to spark one, look out over the woods that surround the town. Last night's snow fall blanketed the landscape leaving a pristine coat of white that went for miles and miles. I could see the lake off in the distance from my vantage point. I could clearly see over the privacy fence that encircles it. As the early morning fog began to dissipate I could even see on the water's surface. And what the fuck is that? I cut my hands around my eyes as if make-believe binoculars could somehow improve my vision and lean out over the railing. That was definitely something bobbing in the surface. Oh fuck. Looks like there's someone out there. Well I can't be right. I closed that like a lot of years ago. Something about an undertow. Oh fuck. It's not my fault if some random nobody gets themselves killed. You know as much as I want to turn away I can't. I'm frozen to the spot precariously hanging over the railing. There's something about them. Something familiar? The redhead. A wee Manhattan home ec. She was always so patient and caring. Took a trip with me and several of my classmates over the summer to check out the new Space Mountain. We shared our first kiss during the fireworks display on the third night. And made some dumb promises I couldn't keep. Total blast to have around. Always wanted me to tag along on his misadventures. We got caught sneaking in to see Jaws and I managed to get away before the cop showed up but he wasn't so lucky but he never sold me out. He always had my back. Lived across the street from me our entire lives. Could never ask for a better friend. We began drifting apart when he started getting pretty deep into his schoolwork. Every once in a while he'd stop by just to chill but... Last time we talked we went to a queen concert at the Paramount back in April. Reeling from a mix of vertigo from the light headedness from the cigarette in a sudden splitting migraine. I pressed my palms into my eyes trying to get my head straight. I can't even focus on myself now though. There's people down there and they need my help. Without even bothering to get rid of the evidence I'll be back. I dropped to the ladder and I began climbing down. It's a quiet ride on my bike up to the path that leads to the lake and a crunchy one for the last mile or so. The only other sound that me plotting through the snow are the occasional gusts of wind screaming through the trees. Danger, drowning hazard, areas off limits. Little signs like that are posted everywhere. I disregard them and trek all night. Can't abandon my friends now. It's funny even though the sun is coming up it seems to be getting colder. That's right. How the hell am I supposed to get over this? Looks like there's a hole behind it. I mean right under the fence. On my hands and knees I crawl through it. I can see it now. It's everyone I know. Every one of you. All my friends. My family. Still others I don't recall and fall. You shouldn't be here. Why? How can this be? I have to get you out of here. I won't let this go on. The freezing water is up around my ankles now. With each step I can feel the ground getting further and further away. Up to my thighs. I'm already shivering. My heart begins to drop. Something's wrong. I'm moving slowly out towards them. I can help. It doesn't have to be this way. We can all make it out of here. Up to my chest. I can't shake the creeping dread from being in deep water. When I was a kid, I cannonballed the bottom of my uncle's pole and I freaked. I couldn't move. I flailed about and panicked. Trying desperately to gain ground but nothing. I thought I was going to die. Someone got down in time to fish me out. I got a full be of water. I'm not a swim. It's too late now.