---- Alice, paying no mind to my resistance as she and Yoel nudged me toward the shore. Seizing the moment, Yoel shrugged off my jacket and took a hefty swig from a wine bottle. "Richard, this one's to you. Your move, buddy." His toast was like throwing me onto the grill. I snapped back, "I've told you, I'm not up for a swim. Your boozing isn't going to change my mind. And why can't I just pick Truth?" Yoel's lips tightened, and he shot a wounded look at Alice, whose expression quickly soured. She chucked her wine bottle onto the sand with a thud. "What's with the act? Swimming is your thing. They're not asking for the moon, and he's already downed a bottle for you! Why do you have to spurn their kindness?" I glanced at Alice, the heroine in our little drama, and then at Yoel, his eyes brimming with tears. I could not help but sneer. "Who asked him to drink? I said no swimming, and he's pressuring me. How is that not a ---- hassle?" My sharp retort left Yoel in tears. Alice's face darkened, and she rolled up her pants. " You won't swim? Alright, I'll join you!" Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Alice yanked my ear and plunged me into the chilly waves. Ashiver ran up from my feet, where the cold bit into my wounds, and ina flash, the sea flooded my nose, leaving me coughing and sputtering. Alice was relentless, holding me down with Yoel's help. My eyes reddened with the sting, tears and snot mingling as I struggled. When it felt like my lungs would burst, I frantically pushed at Alice, and she finally released her grip. However, as luck would have it, a rogue wave crashed over us just then, and when I reached for Alice's pant leg, she kicked me away with all her might. ---- I was dragged into the ocean, the freezing water swallowing me whole. It felt like an eternity before I mustered the last ounce of my strength to reach the shore, taking deep, life- saving breaths of the crisp air. Meanwhile, Alice was gently stroking Yoel's well- behaved head, soothing him, "Don't worry, I've dealt with him. He had it coming. I'll set him straight later." With that, she approached me, looking down with an air of superiority. "Say you're sorry to Yoel! And as for you, down a bottle of wine as your punishment! Or else-" In the midst of everyone's shocked stares and Alice's demanding gaze, my eyes brimming with tears, I cut her off. "Alice, my lawyer will be in touch. We're done. We're getting a divorce." At my words, Alice stared at me, her dark eyes wide with shock. ---- I stumbled forward, my body weak, and as I hit the busy street, darkness overtook me, and I collapsed. Right before I blacked out, I could hear the panicked cries around me. "Someone's down!" "Get an ambulance, fast! God, he's bleeding from his stomach, there's so much blood!" Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!