Sasha smiled, arching his neck downward, looking below. It was a long, long way down. He turned, taking a deep breath. He gazed upward at the moon; it was so peaceful. So serene. Something that could take away all pain or deal it twofold.

He took a couple steps backwards, until he felt nothing on his right heel. He was right there. He sat, taking out a pen and a pad of paper he had.

Dear Friends, one and all,

I'm sorry it had to come to this. Really. You all probably know why I did this. Don't worry about me, I should be in a better place. Just know that I wasn't crazy or suicidal in the least until lately, and I still am not crazy. I want to thank you for the adventures I had with you all. Despite my illness, you chose instead to take me along and give me the time of my life. I applaud you for that, and keeping me alive and out of danger for the duration of our time together. But now, I bid the world a fond farewell. My curtains are closing, and I'm giving my final bow. The combination to my trunk is 3-15-32, you guys split all of it. Put it to good use.

Sasha

He took a deep breath, standing up, placing a rock on the middle of the note. He made sure it was in plain sight so his friends would read it. He closed his eyes, taking another deep breath.

"C'mon, Sasha... Don't chicken out of this, too..." His eyes remained closed. The wind picked up ever so slightly, making his light clothes ripple slightly. He craned his neck upwards, and threw his hands out to the sides. If one were to look at the boy right now, he would look peaceful. He was. He was experiencing the most inner peace he had since he was a very young child. He had made up his mind already, and nothing was going to stop him.

He still wanted to delay the process. He stood up on his toes, becoming ever so slightly unbalanced. He still stood perfectly straight. Of course he would do it now, he had all the reason in the world. It was either this, or a slow painful death, causing his friends to grieve endlessly for a long time. This death was quick, painless, easy. A moments clarity hidden inside a world of anarchy and chaos, and Sasha was the one to find it.

"Sasha!" He heard a familiar voice scream out his name. She must have known what he was trying to do. He had to do it, it was now or never. He arched his back, the center of gravity becoming unnatural. He was falling.

"Sasha, no!" she called again, he could hear her cry. It pained him so, to have made the nicest girl in his little brigade cry, but it must be done. It was either one day of crying or months of crying. It was better for them in the end, right?

Layla sniffed, watching Sasha fall. Why did he do it? She quickly found the note and skimmed it, not even getting the gist of it. He killed himself, he left a note. A note for someone else to decipher, she was in no condition to do so.

"Layla, what's wrong, we heard you screaming?" James stepped out of his tent, Kaze, Gerik and Seth following close behind.

"It's Sasha... He..." She couldn't choke any other words out besides those. She simply thrust the small notepad to James, who read over it. He closed his eyes, and let out a breath of air. It turned into vapor in the cold, fall morning air. The others quickly understood the impression. Gerik and Kaze were immobile with shock, Seth was walking back to their camp to tell the others.

"I wonder..." Sasha started, staring up at the tiny ant people above him, "if I wish them luck as loud as I could, would they hear me?"

He thought about this for a moment, then closed his eyes, waiting out the remainder of his descent.

"No. I guess not."