Bitter salt coated my tongue. It burned like acid as I tried to stay aboard the slowly collapsing raft. I was going to die out here. The sun burned against my back, tears streaming down my face. Perhaps it was better this way. My fingers detangled from the ropes of the raft, white and numb as a corpse. At least in death, I wouldn't be alone. My heavy eyes drooped, and I was sure it was over. The sun