leave a light on ¹, ln4 ✓

prologue

Edie sat on the ledge of the rooftop, surveying the cityscape below. The sun was setting, its last few beams of light hitting the tops of buildings and reflecting off the windows of skyscrapers. The sky was a kaleidoscope of pinks and oranges, fading to a deep blue as darkness encroached.

Edie ran her hands along the stone of the ledge, feeling the roughness beneath her fingertips. She let out a deep breath and felt the wind brush against her face. Everything was still in that moment, and yet Edie could feel the undeniable pull of something greater than her. That something was trying to draw her in, to make her jump. The thought of it sent a chill down her spine, and Edie fought the urge to give in. It would be so easy, of that she was certain; to just let go, and succumb to whatever force was pulling her. But Edie knew that it wasn't the answer. She slowly turned her gaze back to the cityscape below. The jewels of buildings twinkled and sparkled, and people moved about on the streets like ants. Edie knew that none of them could see her, perched high on the rooftop and they would never know if she jumped. It was a strange thought, and it made her feel oddly isolated.

This place wasn't her home; it was a place of longing and loss, of family and fate. But Edie was an outsider here, and no matter how long she sat on this rooftop, she would never truly belong.Edie suddenly remembered why she was here, and that familiar feeling of sadness crept in. She had been drawn here by the force of her desperation, desperate to escape from the person she had become. But it was futile. It was impossible to escape herself. Edie looked out and tried to imagine what it would be like to jump, to feel the sensation of flying before she hit the ground. She imagined the relief she would feel, the freedom, and the escape from her mind; But then, just as quickly as she had imagined it, the thought was gone. Edie knew that she could never follow through with the act, no matter how tempted she was. She sighed and closed her eyes, feeling the warmth of the sun on her face. She felt the cool night air caress her skin, and soon her mind was filled with thoughts of home. She imagined the embrace of her parents and the comforting scent of her mother's cooking. She imagined hearing the laughter of her siblings, and how it filled the house with joy. And at that moment, Edie realized that home wasn't a place; it was something found within the heart. The home was a feeling, and no matter how far she traveled, it was with her always. Edie opened her eyes and looked out once more, taking in the view of the city. She knew that she had to go home, but first, she needed to find the courage to get off the ledge. The sun had finally set, and the night was in full bloom. 

'Is this seat taken?' A man's voice questioned, snapping edie out of her thought as she turned toward the voice. 

"Yeah, sorry." She mumbled, turning back to the beach. "No it isn't," She sighed, moving her bag to the other side of her. 

'Cheers,' He smiled, sitting down beside her. 'Shouldn't a pretty girl like you always be accompanied?' he hummed, taking out a cigarette from a small wooden box. 

"Didn't your mom tell you it's bad to talk to strangers?" She smiled, sticking her hand out for a drag. 

'Well she did,' He started, taking a long hit before passing her the cigarette. 'But she did say I could talk to them if they were pretty,' He chuckled, grabbing another cigarette from the box before sticking it back into his pocket. 

"What's with you and calling me pretty?" She smiled, feeling a light redness form on her face. 

'Just speaking the truth,' He smiled. 'Penny for your thoughts?' 

Edie took a long drag of the cigarette, letting the smoke fill her lungs before exhaling slowly. "Just trying to clear my head," she replied, turning to look at the stranger beside her. She couldn't help but notice the sharpness of his jawline and the way his eyes seemed to glisten in the sunlight.

'I know the feeling,' he replied a hint of sadness in his voice. 'Mind if I ask what's on your mind?' Edie paused for a moment, unsure if she wanted to share her thoughts with a stranger. But something about him made her feel comfortable like she could trust him.