She could feel the edge of the building through her worn out sneakers.
Night wind pulled her blonde hair into a brilliant golden flag behind her.
Long ago, she had dropped her teddy bear over the edge. Now it laid on the pavement so many feet below, its fur glinting softly in the moonlight. A girl of seven bends down to pick it up. He tickles it's fur and squeals in delight at the new toy. His mother calles to him and, after tucking the plathing beneith his arm, he scampers off.
From her apartment roof, Artemis waits for him to pass on. She's not cruel enough to scar the kid's life.
Artemis had stood there for hours, staring over Gotham. Not because she was having second guesses, but because she was going over the events that had led to this.
Police reports confirm that the Huntress had been apprehended. After being found guilty of the attempt on Governor Wallace's life, she has been sentenced to two years in Belle Rev Penitentiary…
She shifted her weight forward.
You and Dad and me! We have to keep this family from falling apart!
The wind picked up, as if trying to pull her away from the edge.
I never asked for a daughter! You're as pathetic as your mother.
Her eyes smarted with tears, but she didn't cry. That was one of the first lessons beaten into her.
Caught up in her throat, a sob swelled. She didn't think about what would happen when Mom got home. Once, she had believed that one day, they could come together to be one big happy family. Yeah right. Fantasies had lost their shine a long time ago. Now was only left the tarnished and rough edges of reality.
Artemis leaned forward, the soles of her sneakers biting into the rough corner. No more. She couldn't stand waking up to Jade's empty bed. Dust had accumulated at the door of her parent's room. The apartment was as empty as her eyes, and as meaningless as her life.
She felt herself slipping, but made no move to back away. All her life, she had learned to accept that there was no such thing as happily ever after. But it had finally struck her when Jade left. Life was harsh, and no wishing on your shooting star could change that.
There were no rabbit holes to Wonderland.
In a final wishing moment, she looked back over Gotham. Thousands of people, mothers reading their children bedtime stories, couples snuggled together on the couch, blissfully unaware of the nightmare that was her life.
She closed her eyes and with a final squelch of her battered shoes, she fell into the night.
