Hold On

****Continued on from ”To Stay”****

"BEA!"

His voice smoothly rang out like the low growl of the thunder rippling across the pitch-black horizon. Lightning darted back and forth electrifying the air.

"What are you doing!?" His voice was calmer now but still strained with worry, concern, fear.

His voice. Her skin prickled. Every hair on her body raised. His voice did something to her. It stirred something deep inside of her. Something she did not want to be stirred. She shook the thought from her mind. She could not think of that now.

She shifted slightly on her knees. As she did, he breathed in a sharp inhale. She could tell he wanted to come closer but did not dare. He was not close enough to grab her, or he would have by now, but he must be far enough away that he thought to be careful of her position on the edge of the crumbling rock face.

"Bea..." he started.

She shuddered, not from the cold, but the sound of her name on his lips.

"Bea!?" His voice was a plea now, but also a firm warning. "Please back away from the edge..."

She wanted to turn to see his face, but she could not. She would not. She was not that strong. She heard his feet shuffle on the dirt below and she stiffened, slightly rocking forward. He stopped.

"I'm sorry" he whispered "But please, just come back from the edge. Come back... to me"

She could hear the pain etched in his voice. She hated that she did this to him. She hated that he was here right now, begging with her. He should not be here. She Didn't want him here. No, that was a lie... But she had to do this. She just could not bear it any longer. He would be ok. Eventually.

But she knew he would not back off. She knew he was watching her every single move. He was fast... But could she be faster?

"OK" she whispered.

A small exhale of relief escaped him as he began to shuffle forward toward her again.

"Stop", she said abruptly. He stopped. Rocking back and forward on his toes. Every part of him wanted to launch forward and just grab her. But she was so, so close to that edge. So. Close. Every second he stood there felt like an hour. Every inch of his body ached, screaming at him to act. But he needed to be careful. She was so, so close.

“Bea?” he gently pressed. The rain had settled now, and the wind had died down. Lightning still cracked across the dark horizon and the moon was peering out from behind heavy clouds. He could hear small sobs hiccupping from her chest.

“Why are you here?” She asked.

He did not answer straight away.

She slightly turned her head toward him; he could see the tears glistening off her exposed cheek under the dull moonlight. Under that peeking moon, her tears looked like ice gliding along her pale skin.

The moon was curious now he had arrived. Would the outcome be turned?

“I…” he started.

She turned her face away again. He hated not being able to see her face. He needed to see her eyes, to read her features.

“You know why I am here” he continued.

Now, she did not answer.

“Bea…” he said. “I need you to come with me”

She hugged her wet frame a little tighter. A part of her wanted to, it really did. A part of her wanted to get up from the cold ground and throw herself into his warm arms. But she could not. The thought of going back, of facing it all again. The pain, the shame, the guilt.

“I’m so sorry” she whispered.

“NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!” he screamed as she disappeared over the edge of the cliff.