An hundred years should go to praise
Thine eyes and on thy forehead gaze;
---
The dark haired man pulled his pen from the page and slid it aside. It had taken him days to recall even this much of his own story. He was hesitant to continue.
The time was rapidly approaching for him to act, and he would have to finish his story before then. He did not know if he wanted to push forward. For the first time in almost forever, something within him was telling him to pull back.
He could not, though. He picked up a quill and fresh piece of parchment, and began to write once more.
"When the water hit me I was almost knocked out. Suddenly my heart turned from joyful ecstasy as I fell to dull numbness. The water was cold, and hard, and deep. I had no idea how far I had fallen, but I was shocked by it.
What had I been thinking, to jump off that cliff? I had simply done it. The momentary joy of finally seeing the sun, coupled with the despair of recognizing nothing.
I realized that I had expected to see Hogwarts when I finally saw the sun. But I not seen the school. I had seen nothing but blue skies and dark water and that long fall.
Such a terrible moment, and I had simply done it. Thrown myself from the cliff. I choked on the bitter seawater and twisted futilely in an effort to get away from it.
My back stiffened and my hands froze. I felt the intense chill of the water working itself through my skin and into by brain. I was dying.
Then suddenly the water tossed me - though I did not feel it - to the surface. The sun was bright and dark at the same time, shattering my coldness and burning me. I caught a quick glimpse of the cliff, far away. I drifted.
Everything was so far away and I relaxed. The sun was bright above me, and it faded from my vision. I sunk into the water, feeling it tug at my clothes and arms, as if saying, 'come along'.
I mourned. I wanted to go home.
But home was so for away, and right now, the water felt very safe. I let go and fell unconscious in its patterns and swirls.
