Page 15 of Deviant

It’s only fair I give her mine.

My fingers run through our carved names again before I hold onto the rail and look down at the flowing lake beneath me. Itake a fortifying breath before gaining the courage to straddle the rail and place both heels of my chucks on the tiny ledge.

Tonight, I’ll do it.

Tonight, I’ll give my best friend the justice she deserves.

I close my eyes and repeat my apology once more while inwardly praying that Nora is here with me, listening to the words I professed that godawful night to her.

“Nora, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. Please… please forgive me.”

The wind responds in kind—cold and blistering to my tender flesh.

I let out an exhale and pry my eyelids open.

Up high like this, one could almost mistake themselves for having the ability to fly.

But I won’t fly.

I’ll fall.

Fall until my body breaks against rock and ice water below. Either drowned or broken, they would find my lifeless body floating ashore on Silverstone Lake tomorrow by dawn.

My father will be crushed, but he’ll understand and remain quiet through all of it as the town questions him on why I would go to such lengths to end my life.

Lord knows he’s been carrying the same guilt I have for far too long. My death will give him the release he aches for as well.

“See, Nora? This is what I have to do. For all our sakes,”I think to myself, content that everything will return to its proper order if I take this leap.

But just as I raise my foot off the ledge, ready to take that midnight swim Elias taunted me with earlier, I hear her voice.

“Stop.”

“Don’t do this.”

Tears well in my eyes as I hear Nora’s voice as crystal clear as the rush of water down below my feet.

“You don’t have to do this.”

“It was a mistake.”

“You didn’t mean it.”

“I know you didn’t.”

“So please…don’t do this, Roe.”

“Live.”

“For me.”

“You owe me that much.”

“I can’t,” I blurt out with unmistakable pain edged to my voice. “I can’tdolife without you. I won’t.”

“You can and you will.”

“For me, Roe. For me.”

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