Sleepless Nights

PROLOGUE

An hour ago, the sunset had radiated across the cloud, turning it molten orange with bands of pink. But now it was gone, the day was being swallowed by the night; slowly eaten and digested slower still.

I sat under the starless, moonless sky. There was no twilight, only blackness. I felt claustrophobic, like I am in a cave. The low sky has become a ceiling of grey black rock above.

I tugged my black leather jacket. The cold onshore breeze blew right through my skin. Even though I couldn't clearly see the view of the cliff, I heard the soft waves that bounced into the walls. The sound of the waves calmed my inner grief.

I took a grip on the metal hand bar that served as the boundary between the cliff and the deep blue ocean. As the gust of wind blew, the strands of my long wavy hair swept towards my face.

I waited several minutes composing myself. I fitted through the space between the hand bar and the ground just to pass through. I took a step closer to the edge of the cliff.

Is this the only answer for all of those things?

Another step then all of this would end. A tear slipped from my eyes.

But I just can't fucking leave gramps just like that. Memories went flashing through.

"Not today, Old hag. I'm in a hurry."

"I love you gramps."

"Old hag, bring me back my ice cream."

"Don't you dare block my cards!"

"Gramps, where are you?"

"They hurt me gramps."

"Gramps. Gramps."

One thousand one...

One thousand two...

One thousand three...

One thousand four...

I closed my eyes momentarily and took a step forward. A piece of rock fell from the surface down into the water.

I saw the sky was tar-black and the large clouds were moving towards me. A tinkling sound came to my ears as the first pearls of rain dropped onto the leaves. The sound was like the glassy clinking of a champagne flute, lilting and clear.

A sheet of rain passed over me and the sound intensified. It wasn't the soft, sodden, swollen drops of spring I was hearing; it was like ball bearings hitting the canvas roof with force.

I let the breeze pierced through my skin. It was as if my heart stopped beating the moment my body touched the cold water.

The sound of waves crashed silently as I went under. The water flooded over my lips, freezing them as it poured into my mouth. All I could feel was cold water filling my lungs. All I could sense was that I'm dragged down further, submerged with water swirling around me... crushing me.

I could see the surface above me, so close, yet so far away. A very beautiful scenery that somehow made my heart ache. Why do I have to do this? Do I really need to do this? My heart sank as I sank plunge deeper into the cold endless water.

But before my eyesight became dark and deluded, I saw a silhouette of a girl from the area where I just jumped, running away from a masked man. I barely hear the noise because of the bubbles going inside my ears. Alright. I'm done.

My limbs felt heavy and my body was numb. My mind went blank and my heart began to gave up its fight and my body stopped altogether.

Before I could dozed off, I remember those soft fingertips that grasped my hands trying to reach me. I heard his movements rushing towards my direction.

The unfamiliar silhouette then, stretched his arms around my waist.

For me, my life suddenly became hell that fell directly from heaven to abyss. I was about to choose my faith and end my miserable life but then he came.

I heard his deep manly calm voice whispered into my ears. I felt a sharp metal cold steel stabbed my drowning heart.

"Vulture have found the falcon."