#resusitation

Virgil had been passing through the park in search of inspiration when he'd seen his topless brother dive into the lake. It was a typical thing for Gordon to do but that lake was artificial and stagnant. Big warning signs discouraged people from swimming and Gordon knew he shouldn't be in it. Sighing, Virgil jogged towards the lake with the intention of coaxing his wayward brother out. As he neared it became clear that Gordon had decided to do laps. Why he'd want to do them here, especially after training in a clear chlorinated pool that morning, was unclear. Not in the mood to chase Gordon, Virgil resorted to calling his name. Gordon ignored him. This annoyed Virgil who waited for the teenager to swim closer. 

"Gordon!"

Virgil repeated, but again there was no response. His brother was now yards from him when Virgil called his name again. There was not even a hint of acknowledgement. Virgil's frustration turned to concern when Gordon stopped swimming. He was treading water and turning his head as if there were people with him. There was a grin on his face. 

"Let's go!"

That's when Gordon dived. Something was definitely wrong. Virgil stepped closer to the water's edge, eyes scouring the surface waiting for Gordon to return. His brother could hold his breath for a long time but the anxiety in Virgil rose. The lake's surface remained undisturbed. Virgil started counting. If Gordon hadn't surfaced by the time he hit a hundred he was going in. By fifty Virgil was wiggling off his shoes. At eighty he was shirtless. At ninety he emptied his pockets and at in hundred he rushed in. 

"Gordon! It's not funny, Gordon." 

The lake got deep quickly and Virgil started swimming to where he last saw Gordon. The water was murky and Virgil really didn't want to dunk his head under. His eyes searched the depths for bright colours, for something out of place, but he couldn't see anything. Taking a breath he dived beneath the surface. He squinted into the deep, pushing forward and deeper. His fingers brushed the top of some slimy feeling plant life. Just as Virgil was about to return to the surface he spotted something bright. Forcing himself forward he wrapped his arms around his brother's bare chest. Relief mixed with fear as he dragged Gordon out the vegetation towards the surface. What would cause his brother to drown himself? The smile on Gordon's face before he'd dived played at the back of Virgil's mind, chilling his heart. 

Breaking the surface, Virgil gulped down fresh air. Shifting Gordon, Virgil dragged his brother to the side of the lake and onto the grass. The basic first aid Virgil had learnt at school kicked in. Grabbing his mobile from the pile of his belongings he dialled 911 and hit the loudspeaker button. Water was trickled from Gordon's mouth and when Virgil checked his airways they were full of water. There was no rise and fall in Gordon's chest. 

"911, what's your emergency?"

"I need an ambulance. My brother tried to drown himself in the lake. He's not breathing. I'm going to start CPR."

Forgoing any initial breaths, Virgil clasped his hands over his brother's breastbone and started pushing it down. It was a violent rhythmic motion that rewarded Virgil with the sound of snapping bone. Fighting back tears, he counted each compression aloud so the operator could hear. Thankfully his GPS was active and the operator was able to pinpoint his location. His count hit thirty. 

"The ambulance is on its way. You're doing really well, now you need to give two breaths then straight back into another thirty compressions."

Virgil pinched his brother's nose, covered his mouth with his own and exhaled twice. The heel of his hand was immediately back on Gordon's chest and he got back into the rhythm. The operator was with him the entire time as Virgil put all his effort into pumping his brother's heart. During the fourth round of compressions Gordon spluttered. Virgil knelt back as he watched Gordon throw up, relief filling him at the fact that he wasn't dead. The screech of sirens could be heard getting closer as Gordon coughed and wheezed. Moments later paramedics were around them, taking observations and separating them. 

"You did good, lad."

Virgil gazed up at the paramedic who wrapped a foil blanket around his shoulders. Virgil hadn't noticed he was shaking. The man scooped up Virgil's belongings as well as walking over and grabbing Gordon's shirt and bag. 

"Let's get you both to hospital."

Virgil was led to the ambulance and guided into a seat. Gordon was fighting another paramedic who was trying to get an oxygen mask over his face. Reaching out, Virgil took Gordon's hand in his and started rubbing circles in the back of it. The brown eyes that met his were filled with terror. 

"It's okay, Gordon. I'm here."

Gordon slowly started to relax, allowing the oxygen mask to be pulled over his face but his eyes never left Virgil. A squeeze of the hand when they started to move kept that focus on him. 

"The mermaids." 

Gordon's voice was hoarse and contained none of it's usual playfulness. There was a sadness in his brother's eyes. 

"I never got to see the mermaid's home."