For a moment
It was as if
All blood
Had drained out of him
But now
Find the strength
Step.
She was long gone
Yet
He could still
Catch her.
Could?
Will.
Like a golden cloud
To the wind
He must follow
Make a leap
Beyond the edge
This time
Over the abyss.
Out of grasp
Yet
Within reach.
Pairs of eyes
Spectators
Gazing at him
The play had reached its climax
The audience
Expects
Resolution.
A certain shade of pink
Beside a noirette
Distinct contrast
Icy blue and peach.
Certainly shocked
Perhaps even agitated
But possibly
Hopeful.
Hoping
No more
Drastic
Rotten measures
Methods
Which they so despised
A reminder
There was still a request
To fulfill.
Save her.
He will.
Not just because it was a request.
Because even he
Cynical and crude
Had come to accept
Love.
Love a woman
Not for who she was
But for who she is.
And possibly
Consider
Maybe he could earn
The privilege
Return
Finally break away
Break out
From his self-induced isolation.
Craft the paddle
Build a raft
Escape
From the damned
Desert island
Rejoin her.
He was cast out
Marooned
Yet it should not be a reason
Not to sail again.
Each step
Heavy
Stiffed
But slowly
Surely
Lighter.
Zero
But the timer
Start again.
No doubt
This journey
Will have an end
But now
Focus on the present.
The past will kill you with regret.
The future kills with anxiety.
By deduction, present may be the most survivable.
Satisfactory.
Now.
Where did she go?
A subtle sense of urgency
Each step
Faster
The staircase
Seemed long and winding
The air
Colder
Sharper
Beads of sweat
But not from exhaustion.
His tongue was dry
Swallow
But there was none
Signs
Fear?
Opening the door
He shivered
Gust of wind
An icy punch
The light stung his eyes
Relative silence
Hissing at him.
Now
Frantic
He looked around
Searching for a blonde hue
Under the gray sky
Nowhere to be found.
Walk
Inspecting
Seeking
Fingers crossed
Nearing an edge.
He cursed under his breath.
Agonizing truth
He was either too late
Or
He had made a fatal blunder.
Once again
Coldness
Gripping him
Difficult to breathe
Oxygen be damned
His chest was heavy
Limbs threatening to fail
But he cannot fall.
To think of it, why did he come here?
Of all places
Which way did she flee
But he could not remember.
Epiphany
He was guided
By an insidious prediction.
Cold chill down his spine.
If he sat down now
He may never stand up again.
Had he assumed
Worst case scenario
Feasible
Yet
Illogical?
Rooftop.
A cliché.
But no!
It cannot be.
Such is youth.
On the contrary
History does not repeat itself.
But it is a source of pattern.
Had he presumed
A pitiful expectation
Of the proud queen?
How disrespectful of me.
She will do no such thing.
A fire that burns brighter
The harder the rain.
It cannot be put out
By a simple conflict.
Can it?
Dangerous
But a possibility.
Expect the unexpected.
Do not expect
In order not to be
Disappointed.
She is just a girl after all.
Move on
Keep walking
Time is of essence
In this case
Difference
Between ruin
Or recovery.
Faster.
He knew
Where to
Next.
Should he be wrong again
It may be too late.
Time is ticking.
Figment
Imagination
Hallucination?
Traces
Red
Drops
Blood?
His hands
Cold and pale
The road ahead
Long and winding
Constructions seemed
Sky high
And he could not
Look back.
Forward.
Propelled by anxiety
Perhaps fear
Insidious thoughts
Behind him
Giving chase
Ironically
Urging him on.
He had to be wrong.
It cannot be what he was thinking.
Desperation
Drive people
Over the edge
Figuratively
Literally.
He had to reach her.
Pull her up.
Before it is too late.
