A Question for the Fearless

I am on a barren hillock over hanging a small saltwater lagoon that leads to a dark angry ocean. All was black around me. The ground, the water, the dead trees with their spindly branches reaching towards the dark grey sky. It was a bleak landscape of ash and sand. Yet as I stood on the hillock, I smiled. I knew that this was the outcome, but I still had memories of this place. Lush green vegetation, apple trees with buscles just bursting from the branches, blue sunny skies, and the air filled with the laughter of a community picnic. Dogs were running and playing catch with their owners, Dad's grilled hotdogs and burgers on the charcoal grill and Mom's sat at the tables and gossiped. There was the shrill joyful shrieks of children leaping into the water below. The giggles and soft words exchanged between young couples. But one couple in particular did not stay hushed. They were old friends turned loves. Sixteen and madly in love with each other. They did not sit behind the bushes to exchange close words. They laughed and skipped and acted like 5 year olds themselves. They rolled down the hill, played hide and go seek. It was a beautiful sight. They dived into the clear blue waters of the lagoon below and swam with the children as one of them. Bliss was achieved. The smells in the air were delicious. Soon they all packed it in for lunch. The lovers took to the job of situating the children and feeding the youngest ones themselves. Now there are some good parents, the mothers and fathers would say as they enjoyed their food in each others company. If they could have taken a picture of that moment and kept it forever, they would have. But like all good things, it had to come to an end. They packed it up and left. Except for the two lovers who never wanted it to end. But it did. The day turned to night. Not even the moon showed her lovely face that night. In the dark of the night an evil brewed. A dark clad figure with a dark purpose cloaked in jealousy. The giddy dream turned into desparate nightmare when the figure hidden in the shadows of a moon that did not shine, found the two lovers happily sleeping in each others embrace. If only the boy had awaken in time, he might have survived. The figured killed the boy, spilling his rich red blood all over his lovers skin. She awoke with a piercing scream and she ran towards the hillock. The man followed in hot pursuit. She ran towards the hillock hearing his heavy breathe behind her. She ran knowing fully that another death awaited her in the water below. The lagoon below the hillock was a favorite spot for sharks to rest for fishers always dumped their chum into the waters below. She knew fully well. Her little brother died in the maw of those monsters in the lagoon. But the man behind her scared her more than the sharks. She knew where the edge was and she pulled to a stop and looked down. Down below she could make out the black shadows moving below the surface. Her terror overwhelmed her with the choice she faced. Die by this man, or from the sharks below. Then like an angel straight from Heaven, there he was. Standing on a small island in the middle of the forbidden water. Jump he said. I will catch you, trust me he said. She looked into those eyes she loved and made a leap of faith over the edge. I do trust you. She didn't scream as she fell. She waited for her lovers arms to catch her. He promised to catch her. She'd trust him to catch her. But the thing is... he didn't. She fell into the water... And died.

My smile vanished with the happy memory. Ten years later, you can still stand in the forsaken landscape and watch the young girl run to the edge. Watch her take the jump. And if you are fearless enough you can look over the edge at the young boys ghost, the one who's blood stained the girls skin red, and watch her fall into the water. You can see the sharks below swim in a sea of redness. Thick rose red blood that stained the lagoons waters. I looked over and saw it to be true. The water on a moonless night turned red. I stood at the edge and looked down. For a moment I could see the boy look up at me. I met his eyes, so sad and full of pain. Then I turned my back to him. I had no pity to give him. A question though for you fearless folk...

If your a boy, would you have caught her? If your a girl, would you have jumped?