A Brand New Ending

A Brand New Ending - By Stephanie Rolls


Chapter 1

Phoenix



I dig my fingernails into the cold, steel beam, my eyes watching the masses of people and cars rushing behind me. It's Tuesday night. Just another ordinary day. Everybody busy worrying about what they are going to make for dinner, or if they'll make it to their daughter's dance recital on time. But for me, it's another day of pain. Another day filled with crippling fear.

I bet none of them have even noticed me standing here, my hood pulled tightly over my head as I stare down at the frigid, dark abyss that lies beneath me. The cold wind whips through the steel cables, the ominous sound making my heart race even faster. It's almost as though the devil is laughing at me, waiting for me to do the deed. In my hands I clench tightly to a piece of folded paper. It contains my goodbyes. Not to anyone in particular, but to the world.

I jump at the sound of a ringtone and, startled, it made me loosen my grip on the paper. I watched it float down to the sidewalk at a pace that made it impossible for me to grab in time. Pulling out my phone from my jacket pocket, I realize it's not my phone that is ringing. Who would even be calling me? I have no one. I go to put it back in my pocket, but instead hold it out in front of me. I stick my hand out over the railing as far as it will go, clenching it tight. My knuckles turn white. Then I release it.

The phone falls so fast my eyes can barely stay focused on the outline of the metal. Within seconds, I make out a small, white ripple in the water, the phone swallowed up by the blackness below. Instantly, a feeling of nausea overtakes my stomach. I have to do this. I have nothing to live for. It's not like anyone will care…or notice.

Pulling up the sleeve of my jacket, I run my fingers along the bruises and scars that adorn my arms. I think back to all the times I've shown Elaina, only to hear her blame them on my clumsiness. She knew the truth. I could feel it. The look in her eyes always told me she did.

It was always too convenient that she worked late nights. I tried to never be home when he was, but somehow he would always make it into the house without a sound. Escaping was impossible. As much as I wanted to leave them both, I couldn't. I had nowhere else to go and no money or resources to start a new life. There is no other option but one. I want the pain to stop. I want the fear to end.

Shifting my eyes around again, I notice there is a break in the crowd, no one on the bridge's walkway in sight. I slip my feet between the slits in the railing, lifting my body off the ground a few inches. The wind blows harder at this height. My hood flies off and my hair starts whipping in the wind so fast that it stings my face.

Swinging my right leg over the railing, I straddle it, my hands visibly shaking as I clutch onto it. After a few seconds, I notice there are people approaching not far off, as I quickly pulled my other leg over the railing. If I was going to do this, it would have to be now. My body is now facing out over the ocean again, my hands holding onto the railing behind me. Staring out before me, I take in the slowly-dropping sun. The lower half of the sky now a vibrant orange. My mind and body are eerily peaceful, ready to leave this painful life behind. I look up at the sky again, with tears fogging my eyesight.

"I'm sorry, dad," I whisper through a choked throat, before unlatching both my hands from the railing.