Summary: Twenty three seconds is nothing. Unless your life is about to end. This is a moment-in-time two-shot about the bridge scene between Arnold and Helga in TJM.

The first chapter is Helga's point of view. The second will be Arnold's.

Disclaimer: Don't own Hey Arnold!, wish I did, yada yada….

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"Try harder!" I shout, frustration exploding in my chest.

My breath comes in quick, heavy spurts. The ropes beneath us groan under our weight. With everything I have left in me, I grip Gerald's neck harder, as if my own arm strength will somehow help Arnold pull us up...

"Whoa!"

Arnold tumbles over the side of the cliff and catches himself on the bridge.

A part of me draws in breath to scream. Another part of me remembers that a scream will waste precious energy.

Arnold rights himself up and looks at me. I grit my teeth and open my mouth to say…

Crash! My legs and feet suddenly touch bare air as the ropes break.

Logic abandons me as I scream. My feet dangle wildly. Nothing nothing, there's nothing to touch…

I look down to see the bridge tumbling into the foggy abyss below.

My face freezes. The sound of our screams fade into silence.

No. No, no. No no no no no. Criminy. It can't. It can't. It can't.

That was...that was our...last chance…

Maybe we can climb back up, maybe we can hold on, maybe someone will...someone...maybe…maybe...maybe…

My arms start to shake.

Oh, no.

...no, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO….PLEASE...PLEASE, OH PLEASE…

I CAN'T DIE HERE. Not here, not in this stupid jungle. Not with so many precious years left in me. Not with my body still vibrant, my chest still rising, my heart pounding in my ears. NOT THIS WAY.

Oh please...no…God, fate, someone...

Please….please….

This….is it. This is it.

Panic fades to acceptance.

I hope it will be quick. I hope it won't hurt too much.

Then, sadness.

I turn to My Love. He meets my eyes. His facial expressions are a half step behind mine. Fear, panic, then…

I briefly close my eyes. Gerald's neck smells of pomade and swampy jungle air. His arms tremble and his body shakes. I should have been kinder to him, My Love's best friend…

I open my eyes, feeling a stifled sob rise in my chest. But I make no sound. My vision blurs as I stare into My Love's eyes.

At least this shall be the last thing I see in my life.

My heartbeat reverberates in my ears. Thumpthump thumpthump thumpthump… It forms a song, a song my eyes sing to Arnold… Loveyou Loveyou Loveyou…

And his eyes say back, I'msorry, I'msorry, I'msorry… Tears dance in those beautiful green orbs.

If there's one comfort, it's that we'll perish at the same time. Neither one of us will ever have to live without the other.

Loveyou...loveyou...loveyou…

My sweet, angel darling. My optimistic cherub, I'm not angry at you anymore. I don't know if I ever really was. I'm sorry I yelled at you. I'm sorry that I tripped you. I'm sorry that I threw the journal at your face, over and over again. I knew not how to handle my hurt. I was weak, my heart too delicate. Forgive me, Love.

There was so much left for us.

There was so much left.

And as you look at me, I know you feel it too.

Suddenly, a rope drops between us...a rope?

"Come on up, mijos!"

We're saved?

Relief sags my body.

Criminy.