I plucked the flower gently and tucked it into my shirt's buttonhole. I then pulled out my earphones, launched an English learning app, and began reciting words aloud. It might have seemed trivial, but these small actions were my lifeline today. I spotted a pebble on the road and started kicking it like a soccer ball. It struck a pole and bounced into the drain. Jingu was barely half a meter away, staggering like she was intoxicated, but I chose to leap into the drain after the stone. Even as the bushes scratched at me, I didn't look back.