This story came about as I was trying to write a poem for a school assignment. I thought of a poetic first line (or at least I thought it was poetic when I first wrote it), but I ended up thinking of Esme as she stands on the cliff, waiting to jump. I will add another chapter if I get enough reviews.

Disclaimer: The twilight saga belongs to Stephenie Meyer.

SORROW

The rocks beneath my bare feet tumble through the darkness. Seconds later, I hear a distant splash, like shattering glass.

A shudder wracks my body. I bite my lip hard to keep the sobs from bursting out of my mouth. Why did it have to be this way? Why did this have to happen now? I was happy. For the first time in my life, I had been really, truly happy. My heart had swelled in joy, a golden warmth taking the place of the numb, icy feeling that had been in my chest ever since I had married Charles.

I had held him, my baby, my first born son, had listened in wonder as his piercing wails filled the air. Then he had gazed at me with those big, beautiful honey-brown eyes, and I had gazed back, awestruck, knowing in my heart that there was nothing more joyful than becoming a mother.

Mother. How bittersweet the word tastes now. I can feel it on the tip of my tongue, waiting for me to open my mouth so it can taunt me. Images flash in my mind: Me holding my darling baby while it suckles sweetly from my breast. Me rocking my baby to sleep in my arms, while a smile lights up his face, making him even more beautiful than I could ever imagine. My face glowing with pride as I listen as he chirps 'Mama!' for the very first time. My baby learning to walk. Everything that will never happen now.

I had always wanted to be a mother. Ever since my own mother had told me of my birth, and how precious I was to her, I had dreamed of the day when I would be the one clutching my baby to my breast, gazing in wonder at it for the first time. I had wonderful visions of my future, where I would be in twenty years' time.

Now, I peer through the darkness toward the waves crashing onto the sharp rocks below. They are barely noticeably in this starless night. Occasionally, a silvery glint can be seen as the moonlight filters weakly through the clouds. Gladness races through me. What I am considering would be that much harder if the razor-sharp rocks are in plain view. It would make it that much more terrifying, to be able to see the rocks as I plummet fifty feet through the air, to be able to envision my death before it comes.

I take one deep breath. The faint rocks below blur into the darkness before me, and I blink away the tears. No more tears; I have wept enough already to last a lifetime. All the weeping and wailing in the world will not bring my son back to me. This needs to be done.

I steady myself. It is time to do what I have planned to do all along. Why have I hesitated? Surely it is better to just do it, without thinking. Have it over and done with. Soon I will be in Heaven, with my baby boy in my arms once more. I smile through my tears at the thought.

There is one thing I regret: not seeing the strange, gentle doctor again. His image fills my mind, whole and complete. Even though it was ten years ago now, I have not forgotten him. I remember how gentle his ice cold hands felt, as he touched my broken leg while he was treating it. How anxious his face looked as I cringed in pain, and apologised. He was such a gentleman.

I feel my body tremble as I stare into the darkness. Am I doing the right thing, the best thing? I believe that I am. My heart clenches when I imagine my future without my darling baby. I cannot go on without him. I can't.

I cannot hesitate. Not now. I close my eyes, and clear my mind of any fears or regrets. I must do this. I cannot envision a life without him, my baby.

I let out a deep shuddering breath- and step into the darkness.

There is a whoosh of air, and then I am falling, tumbling so fast that I have no time to think or feel anything. It is like falling off the tree all over again, only I am plummeting to my death, not to a broken leg. There will be no one here to save me this time, and for that I am thankful.

Soon there will be no more fear, no more pain. No more of my husband. In the end he would track me down, and forcibly drag me back to Ohio. And the abuse would start all over again. So this has to be the best solution, the best end for me. I will be free of my husband, and he will be free of me. He will never hurt me again. And I will be with my baby. No one will be able to touch me ever again.

I slam into the jagged rocks. Pain jerks through me, and I scream and scream. I can barely recognize my own voice as I listen to the blood-curling shrieks. The waves catch me, and I am flung like a rag doll against the rocks again and again. The pain sears at me worse each time. The stench of blood- my blood- causes me to gag, and then cough, as the freezing salt water rushes down my throat.

Jagged fear rips through me. Is God punishing me for doing this? For giving into my weakness? Please, God, I beg Him, I'm sorry. It's the only way. I'll never be happy otherwise.

What else am I meant to do? My husband abuses me. My parents have disowned me for escaping my husband. My baby, whom I had loved before he was born, is dead, just days after his birth. There is no one to turn to. If I went to anyone, I would have eventually been tracked down. My life would have been just as tortuous as it had been before I left him.

I feel tickling warmth as the tears trickle down my sodden cheeks. Everyone I love and know has forsaken me. I am truly alone in the world.

The waves continue their battering assault. I am exhausted. I do not know how long I have been in the freezing waters. My muscles ache and burn, like I have been running for hours. The pain is unbearable. Please, let me die! Please! Let this pain end! I keep on begging silently, hoping that God will take pity on me and put me out of my misery at last.

After what seems like hours, I get my wish. I feel my muscles relax, my consciousness fade away slowly. Goodbye, I think as I wilt completely, the darkness covering my eyes like a suffocating, heavy blanket. I feel my lips turn up in a weak smile, and a dazzling, brilliant light appears as a tiny prick in the bleak darkness. It expands, as if it were coming closer, blotting out the darkness, and I watch, awestruck, as the gates to Heaven open.