Cry
Esme

I stood on the sheer edge of the cliff. I shifted one toe experimentally. The rocky cliff, darkened with rain, fell away where my foot touched it. I smiled, inhaling deeply and tasting the electricity palpable in the air, brought on by an oncoming storm. Novembers in Ashland were always the wettest.

The grey, heavy clouds swirled lowly in the sky. Occasionally bright lightning would grace the area with its presence. When it did the air around me burst into electrical spurts, raising goosebumps on my hand.

My thoughts drifted, recalling unwanted memories that filled my mind like the plague. Charles...Charles was gone now. I would never have to worry about him. I changed my train of thoughts, the image of my baby, my poor baby girl, still and unbreathing after all my efforts to stay as far away from Charles as was humanly possible. My eyes burned, and before I knew it tears were cascading down my face in bitter harmony with the raindrops slowly pelting the cliff.

Now, more than ever, I wished desperately for someone to trust. Someone who I could confide in and tell my dark secrets to. I was unable to even inform Mother or Father about anything. They had attributed everything to a young girl who didn't know how to be a good wife. I resented their lack of trust. As parents, they ought to be defending me instead of Charles.

I sighed and looked straight ahead. Looking down at the sheer drop would frighten me and no doubt I would retreat from my goal. I refused to back down. I needed to do this, to be with my baby if not anything else. I couldn't handle this life anymore. Maybe I would find peace in another life.

Lightning flashed a jagged line down the cloudy sky, and I threw myself off the cliff.

I didn't remember much after that.

Lights.

Voices.

A flash of horribly familiar topaz.

The scent of death.

I faded in and out of consciousness, over and over again.

Until the fire came to claim me, and I screamed. I screamed until my throat was hoarse, and when I woke up, I was greeted by a sight from my childhood.

A/N: It was the best I could do with horrible flu. I'm totes going to demand the stop the construction across the road. It's screwing with my health. On another note, if you have a Twitter, do follow me. It's going to be where I tell people unnecessary updates about my writing.