Opal's Story

'I'm so sorry.'

I pace the floor, trying to calm down but I find myself even more panicked than before

'She'll be okay' mike says as he wraps me in his arms

This is all my fault. I won't ever forgive myself for this.

I'm so sorry.

I look down at everyone, they're all begging me to get down

I recite my poems in my head, but they're all tainted by the sadder ones that left me shaking with tears

I try to block out their screams, their judgements, but it doesn't work

'I just need someone to listen to me'

'We're listening, talk to us' mike says

I shake my head and cling to the chimney

'You'll all judge me!' I shout

'We won't! We're not like that!' He says when all of a sudden I hear someone behind me, they touch my shoulder and I move forward in a panic, nearer the edge, I have to take hold of the chimney again to stop myself from falling

'Stay back!' I shout, thrusting my hand out in their direction, I have to cling onto the chimney to stop myself from falling as I hear  gasps from beneath me

'Opal, just take my hand' Tracy says

'I can't!'

'You can, I'm right here, please don't do this. I need you, you're my friend remember?' She says

'I'll only hurt you in the end' I say

'You're hurting me now! I don't want to lose you, just come back to me' She says

'Think of dani! How would she feel if you just left her?' She says

This gets me. I start to crumble and I decide to tell Tracy the truth

'She hasn't spoken to me for weeks' I say

'That doesn't mean she's stopped caring, she told me to look after you and okay maybe I haven't done a brilliant job of that, but please just let me try again' she says

'This isn't your fault. I caused this, this is all on me' I say

'It isn't, you didn't ask for any of this!' She says

'I still deserve it, all of this is my fault, and I know that if I take your hand now you'll save me and I dont deserve to be here!' I say

'You do, you're not a monster, Opal. You've been constantly beaten by monsters and now you think you are one. You're not. You're worth ten of them, maybe even more.' She says

I shake my head, refusing to believe her

'You haven't hurt anybody' she says

'I hurt you'

'You didn't mean too' She says

I can feel her presence behind me

'I said stay back' I say

'I'm right here, I'm not moving closer I promise, look at me if you don't believe me' She says

I turn to her, tears rolling fast down my cheeks

She's telling the truth. She hasn't moved an inch

'I'm sorry' I whisper

'Don't be, none of this is your fault, the only people to blame are the ones who hurt you' She says

I look down at the sea of people who had gathered to watch, like I was some kind of soap opera star

'Listen to me' Tracy says, bringing my attention back to her

'You're not like them' she says as she comes closer, looking at me, I nod

I don't wanna die. Not now.

'Let's go back inside yeah?' She says, giving me a smile

I nod and she takes my hand, firmly sealing hers in mine, we walk unsteadily back to the opening when all of a sudden my hand is ripped open and I hear a scream

A blood curdling, terrifying scream

MIKES POV

Thank god Tracy talked her down

I knew she would

'Shows over folks' I say as everyone heads back inside we all hear a terrifying scream and I turn back to see someone hit the ground

And everything goes silent...

THIRTY MINUTES LATER

I push past the sea of people, desperate to get to her, all that's going through my head is I'm sorry

I see Mike knelt down beside her, holding her hand and stroking through her raven hair

'I'm so sorry' I whisper but he doesn't acknowledge me, as she's carried away on a stretcher he gets into the ambulance with her

'Can I come too?' I ask

He nods and I get in as we go to the hospital I enclose my hand in hers

'I'm so sorry' I whisper willing with all the hope in the world that she would be okay

TEN MINUTES LATER

I pace the floor, trying to calm down but I find myself even more panicked than before

'She'll be okay' mike says as he wraps me in his arms

This is all my fault. I won't ever forgive myself for this.

I'm so sorry.