A Waterlogged Lily

Written for Bradley Ramsey’s “Halls Of Pandemonium”, bonus prompt #1.

Lily coughed and gasped. It was dark. It was cold. Her lungs and throat burned and her head throbbed and she felt dizzy.
Hands were rubbing her back. They were cold too.
“It’s alright.” A gentle voice, unknown yet familiar, murmured. “Don’t worry, Lily. You’re not alone.”
Oh. Well, the voice knew her, so had to be a friend of mummy or daddy. Or a neighbour, that Lily hadn’t paid attention to. Either way, their presence was a comfort. And the pain was ebbing fast.
She sat up, absently brushing at her front, but she didn’t seem to have any dirt on her from laying on the ground. Phew! “Where…?”
She squinted through the gloom. When did it get so dark? It had been sunny just a moment ago! Had she fallen asleep? Had-
Wetness. Water burning inside her.
That’s right. She’d fallen in the river. She’d been picking flowers along the bank, and thought she was far enough from the water, she really did, but then she slipped or tripped she couldn’t remember just the cold and the panic and the feeling of her school backpack dragging her down.
She shuddered and scooted back from the dark water, against the figure’s legs. “D-did you pull me out? Thank you.”
A hand gently rested atop her head. “Come, let’s get you to the hospital.”
Lily nodded. The hospital made sense. And it was a safe place for someone to take you, even a stranger. Though… they really didn’t feel like a stranger.
So she took their hand and let them pull her to her feet.
“It’s a nice hospital, I promise.” She forgot their face the moment she saw it. But the smile remained in her mind. “There will be toys, and tasty food, and people who are excited to see you. They’ll keep you company while you wait for your parents.”
“Ok.”
It really was dark. Where were the streetlights? Lily couldn’t make out anything at all, just vague shapes. Which road was this? Well, it didn’t really matter - the figure was striding confidently, clearly knowing exactly where to go, so all she had to do was follow.
“Do you remember your grandparents, Lily?”
“I don’t have grandparents.”
“You must do. Where else would your parents have come from?”
Lily giggled. They were one of those silly grown-ups! “I would have had grandparents, but they all died before I was born.”
“Ah. Well. Would you like to meet them?”
That made Lily pause. And frown. “Am I dreaming?”
The figure examined her. Seeming hesitant. Looked at the river. Looked back at Lily. Tugged her hand and said “Come, let’s get you where it’s warm, and your parents will be able to find you. I’ll try and explain once your head’s a little clearer.”
“Mkay?” Lily was feeling very tired. Almost floaty.
So she followed the nice figure towards the distant, welcoming glow. Leaving her cold, waterlogged body behind in the rushes.

Prompt was “Write a piece that appears to have a happy ending, but carries a much darker truth hidden between the lines…”