Please explain simply how surface tension in water which as far as I understand is a force pulling the water molecules at the surface towards each other horizontally so how does that prevent a vertical gravitational force downwards , also the water molecules at the surface are forced downwards because the there is no water molecule on top to pull it so that should make it even more possible for things to sink like a pin or something

Please explain simply how surface tension in water which as far as I understand is a force pulling the water molecules at the surface towards each other horizontally so how does that prevent a vertical gravitational force downwards , also the water molecules at the surface are forced downwards because the there is no water molecule on top to pull it so that should make it even more possible for things to sink like a pin or something. Why do people keep saying it’s the surface tension keeping it from sinking like even the contact force makes more sense than surface tension.