It was late in the day when Philip went to Horsehead Falls for the last time. It was exactly one year since the accident, if you could call it an accident. After today, he would leave the village and his former life, never to return.
The twin moons, Poseidon and Medusa, rose in the west and now chased the easterly setting sun. Their position on this day weighed as an omen to Philip. It was never good to depart a place when the moons kissed overhead. But, his course was set, as was his fate.
The young man walked near the lip of the falls. The torrent poured over the crag in a never ending roar. He kept walking and passed through a small grove of trees, emerging on a rock outcrop that wedged into a narrow point over the falls. He was stunned to see a young woman in a golden dress standing at the end of the fingered stone, her back to him, she stared down into the tumbling water.
Philip felt panic, “Hey you! Get away from there!”
The young woman turned toward Philip, her face a mix of fear and confusion. She held a dagger in her right hand and raised it toward him, “Don’t come any closer.”
Philip raised a calming hand, “Whoa there. Easy. I’m not going to hurt you.”
She jutted the dagger in his direction, “What do you want.”
“Nothing,” He set the wildflower bouquet in his other hand on the ground. “Well, that’s not true. I’d like you to step away from that ledge. It’s dangerous.”
“No!” she snapped at him. The petite young woman was physically unremarkable; her long face seemed longer with her deep frown; her twiggy arms were without shape as was her torso, even her short dirty blond hair hung in strands. The one remarkable thing about her appearance was the long golden ribbon around her neck that flagged in the wind. But the most disturbing sight was the dagger; she gripped the blade as if she knew how to use it. “I’m not moving, ever!”
“Alright then, let’s just talk.” He judged the girl to be in her late teens, maybe a year or so older than himself, not more than twenty for sure. “I’m Philip. What’s your name?”
She looked around confused. Then she barked, “What does it matter?”
“Okay, why are you here?”
“Why are you here?” she nodded at the bouquet on the ground, “Waiting for some pretty girl? You’re planning on riding away with her into the sunset I’ll bet.”
Philip gave a grave glance at the flowers and said solemnly, “They are not for a girl.”
The young woman’s face changed to shock, “Oh. Oh, I’m so sorry for your loss.”
Philip nodded, “It’s in the past.” He looked intently at her, “Now please step away from the edge, I wouldn’t want to bring another fist of flowers here again.”
The woman’s shoulders slumped as the dagger hand fell to her side. “It’s no use.” She looked back down at the tumbling falls. “I can’t.”
“It’s no problem.” He held out his hand, “Just walk back to me.”
“You don’t understand,” she groaned. “I’ve got no where to go. Nobody wants me.”
Philip dropped his hand. “That can’t be true. You must have family or friends. I’m sure they’re worried about you.”
She stared down at the water. “No. They don’t want me. They sent me away.”
Philip was shocked, but he could relate. “I know how you feel. I wasn’t the favored child. When my brother died my dad turned to alcohol and my mother became despondent. They both treat me like I don’t exist.”
