Falling for You
Prologue
Betsy stared down at the ground below her. She could see her breath in the cold February air. Goose bumps were forming on her tanned skin. The stars glittered in the sky above her. She stared up at them in awe. Everything was so beautiful and so serene. It was sometime after one in the morning. She watched as lights turned off in the windows of the houses all lined up on Greek Row. She wondered if any of her Zeta Beta Zeta sisters were still awake. She also wondered if anyone knew that she was standing on the roof of the ZBZ house.
All of a sudden, the realization hit her and the fear overcame her. She didn't want to be here. Just three months ago, one of her ZBZ sisters, perky and petite Abby had committed suicide when she jumped off the top of the ZBZ house. The suicide had shocked all of them and only now were the ZBZ sisters beginning to recuperate and heal from the tragedy. The pain of it all hit her the hardest. Betsy had been the one that saw Abby fall. Betsy stared down at the ground some 30 feet below her. She was unbelievably afraid of heights but had no idea how she got to this position. She tried to move her feet slowly and felt stuck. They were not budging. "Is this some kind of sick prank?" Betsy asked aloud to no one. Frustrated tears came to her eyes. She tried shifting her feet again and was met with the same immobility.
"Damn," Betsy muttered under her breath. She stared at the engagement ring on her finger and smiled. She thought about marrying Vince in a few months after graduation. He had helped her through her alcoholism. They had both helped each other out. She'd been sober for almost over a year and she was fairly happy. She wanted off this roof. She knew it was late and people might be asleep, but she didn't care. She had to call for help. She wanted to be in the safety of her room with her friends around her.
"Help!" Betsy screamed. "Help! I'm on the roof. Please help me!" She stared at the houses lined up the street and didn't notice any lights coming on or anyone staring out the window. She was certain she was loud enough. Tears stung her eyes. She felt as if her feet and arms and fingers were frozen. The air was already cold, but she could feel an even colder draft behind her. With chattering teeth, Betsy yelled out in frustration. "HELLLLLLLPPPPPPP!"
She was met again with silence. "Why can't anyone hear me?" Betsy asked angrily. "Hellooooo!" Betsy tried moving her feet again and this time she felt free as she was able to move her legs. "Yes," she whispered. She started to turn around when she felt some pressure on her shoulders. "What the hell?" Betsy asked as she looked behind her. She didn't see anyone. "The cold air is making me crazy," she muttered. Betsy turned again but this time she felt real pressure as she was pushed from behind. Betsy tried screaming but no sound came out. It was as if her windpipes were cut off. Flashes of Betsy in a white wedding dress, Vince's face, and her family surfaced in her mind. She felt tears sting her eyes and the wind blowing in her face as she met the cold, hard ground.
