The cold night air was still down below, but on top of the New York penthouse, Katara felt a small breeze blow her dark brown tousles to the side. Her blue eyes watched the cars whiz by about four-hundred feet below. She was mezmerised for one moment by the lights dancing before her eyes. Out here on the deck was much better than being inside.
So much had changed since those days of high school. She hadn't spoken to her brother in months, even though he lived in the same town. Sure, she was Manhattan and she was SoHo, but she still missed those times where she could talk to him about anything. She was scared for anyone to know who she was now. She missed Toph, her best friend ever since she ran into her in the library one day, Toph looking for the gym. At first Katara couldn't believe that a blind girl could be on the wrestling team, but she soon proved her wrong.
And then there was Aang. They'd been together since he started high school. At first Sokka didn't approve, but Katara cared nothing about that. Aang was always there for her, no matter what. Well, she was sure he wouldn't love her the way things were now. No one in their right mind could. Aang was probably off at Wofford like he said he'd be. He'd be in his freshman year now. It was hard to believe that they hadn't spoken in three years.
Derrick was inside; Katara's boyfriend. He'd brought her into his apartment one rainy day about a year ago when she couldn't find her key. It all went downhill from there. At first Derrick was the ideal boyfriend, always thinking up romantic ideas like picnics in central park and giving her roses. But then he began to change. Katara started noticing more and more that the wine she'd buy on the rare Saturday was gone almost the next day, and his apartment stunk of liquor. This was also about the time that apparently she couldn't do anything right. Katara was still in touch with her brother at this time, and soon he began questioning about the bruises and scars on his sister's arms and face. She dismissed the idea, and when he kept prodding, she dismissed their communication ,
The 21-year-old put her wrist down on the pole barrier wrong, and felt a searing pain enter her nervous system via a bruise on that wrist. They were having a New Year's Party, one of Derrick's friends. She didn't even have a clue where she was; Derrick wouldn't tell her. She had come outside to get some fresh air; the apartment smelled too much like tobacco smoke and alcohol. Perfectly legal, but still annoying nonetheless.
Katara heard the glass door open behind her. She heard loud footsteps stumble onto the patio, and felt his breathing down her neck.
"Katie, what're you doing out here? Come inside, where the party is!" she heard a slurred voice say.
"I came out here to think. I'll be inside in a few minutes. And I thought I told you not to call me that."
"I'll call you whatever I want! And you're coming now."
She felt him pull her arm towards the building. When she struggled away, he slapped her. She held her face for a few seconds in one hand, but then turned away, tears streaming down her face.
"I've had it," she whispered.
"What's that? You need to speak louder, Katie. Normal people can't hear other people whispering!"
"I've had it! With you, with the world, with everything!" she shouted at him, still without turning around. Before he could answer, she stepped onto the bottom pole running as a barrier across the patio, and sat on the top one. She could really feel the wind in her face now, and even more so when she closed her eyes and felt herself falling- her heels slipping off her feet, her hair blown back behind her head, and him calling her name from the top of the building. He was so close, yet the voice was so far away.