One More Suicide

Christopher O'Malley went out on a bridge, down in Chehalis.
Clutching his Bible, and a letter from her, fell into the river.
Pity no one was there, no angels in the air.
And the morning paper ran: One More Suicide.

Daybreak, to Brett, seemed to arrive quickly in this town. Two, perhaps three, hours had passed since the horrific nightmare, but, hunched over the table, she sat, scribbling upon a piece of parchment. Bedewing the envelope with a heavy sigh, she looked at the four-letter name she'd meticulously inscribed. He'd never let her go. Not this way, at least.

"Tch," she scoffed, sliding her coat on and making for the door. "Try and stop me." Taking a final glance toward Vash, she shook her head, and smiled. He slumbered peacefully on the bed, mouth agape, a light, nasally snore emanating throughout the room. She could only imagine his reaction when he'd find the room vacant. The look that would stain his visage. The tears that would prick at his eyes when he read her note of absence. At least she wouldn't be there to witness. It was better this way, for both of them. "You thought you could save everyone."


Vash,

You've been a wonderful friend, all that Nicholas talked you up to be. I am forever greatful, but, and I'm sure you'll agree, this has gone on far too long. I know it's been a burden, this past year, and I am sorry. Sorry for every day of it, with every ounce of myself. I'm a wreck, and tried to convince myself otherwise, but I knew it was only a matter of time that the past would catch up with me. Sometimes I think I was just kidding myself, with everything. To believe a paradise could be made by my hands? And I honestly thought being with you would help me to believe that again, when the truth is, I cannot stand you. You were my fantasy for everything I once had. But you can no longer suffice. You were not mine to cleave to, as much as you wanted to be. I used you in the most horrid ways; please forgive me.

Your solace, Brett


Her palms had become slick, thinking for a moment that her grip would give. With a shaky breath, she felt the cool metal grazing her temple. A chill shot through her, the sweat rolling down her brow as she blinked. The hush was broken when she let out a sudden cry of frustration. It seemed impossible. What was holding her back?

"To tell you the truth, I strongly disapprove of suicide..." Vash's words rang clear as day, the image of him standing there, lips molded into a contrite smile, skittering through her mind. That was just it. Despite the ongoing façade, she had always been sure of one thing. That there was, in fact, some form of truth within his eyes. And whenever he'd spoken, she'd wholeheartedly been clinging to every word, hoping and waiting for something to relieve her from this precipice. But it'd never came.

"Idiot," she breathed, taking hold once again. Giving a sharp inhale, she clenched her teeth as to shatter them, and fired.