Realizing that this is a race against time, I reach for the rope and run back over to the well.

"I can get you out!" I yell to him. "I'm throwing some rope down and I'm gonna tie it to a tree, then you can climb it!"

"No..." he weeps. "I can't climb. I can barely keep myself up with my legs."

Being stuck down there would mean that he probably has no body mass. Depending on how this person visiting him is keeping him alive, he might be on his way to dying. I mean, hell, he's in a well for goodness sake!

"Fine... um, wrap it around yourself and I'll try to pull you up!"

"My bones will snap if you pull too hard!"

"It's worth a try! Try to make a swing, sit on the loop and I'll pull you up like that!"

There is silence aside from sloshing water, I can tell he is trying it out.

I run to the big willow tree four-feet from the well, looping it around the big trunk and tying it tight. One knot, two knots, three knots tight.

"Okay! Have you got it done up?!"

"I tried." His voice echos.

"Okay, I'm going to pull you up in three! Ready?"

"Yes..."

"One," I grip the rope.
"Two," I take a deep breath, readying myself to pull.
"Three!" I yell, pulling on the rope as hard as I can.

I may not be the strongest woman but the rope moves with my grip. He doesn't weigh as much as I had feared he might, but it's still enough to give me slack.

"Haggh!" I yank again, pulling him back.

I move past the tree, using it to pull him further up. I keep moving until I hear his voice again.

"I've got the edge!"

I peer past the tree to see fingers digging into the moss.

"Okay! I'm coming back and I'll pull you out from there! Hold on!!"

I let go of the rope, hearing him grumble in pain as he holds himself up.

I rush over to the edge, taking his hands and pulling on them as hard as I can.

Both of us struggling, finally we land outside with a hard thud.