The Badboy and The Jailbird

Chapter 10 "Then... I fly."

Wind.

Rain.

Lightning.

Darkness.

Miles of road.

I go fast.

And faster.

And faster.

Until I can't.

I stop.

-

Sitting on the cliff, I think. I think about who that guy was on the phone. I think about Jessie. I think about my feelings for Taylor. I think about my family and my new brother, and my mother's boyfriend, and about Jamie, Maxine, and Miguel.

Then I consider jumping.

Standing up, I not-so-cautiously look over the edge. I see the rushing river below, filled with class 6 rapids and sharp rock. I think about it: Death by water and rock.

I take off my black Vans jacket, high tops, and undo my hair from the ponytail it's in. My red streaks are faded now. I almost consider going back just so when they find my body, I would have great hair. But I know if I went back, I could never jump.

I look down again. The river is about 50-80 feet below. I've always wanted to fly.

Even the fish have trouble staying alive in it. Their carcasses line the small beach paralleling the water.

Soon, that will be me.

I slowly walk back, my bare feet feeling the cool grass for the last time. Looking up, I memorize everything I can see: the tall pine trees and their smell, the color of the sky and stars that accompany it, the sound of the water rushing below, the look of the mountains and the little snow that tops their high peaks, and finally, the rain and the lightning in the distance.

For a moment the idea that I just left, leaves me with a pang of guilt because of the pain I will cause my mom. Maybe I should leave a note. But I don't.

I walk back a few more steps, the cool rain starting to come down harder. I stare straight. My eyes boring into the other side of the river. Crouching down into runners position, I prepare myself.

3

I imagine I'm in a race.

2

I lift up my butt and prepare to run.

1

-

I run.

I sprint.

I feel the rain pounding against me.

I close my eyes.

Faster.

Only one yard left.

Then I fly.