She ran through the cobbled streets. The tears were streaming across her face. She tore the white satin gloves from her hands as she ran. The weight of her gown and coats were the only things holding her down to the life she longed to escape. She began to rip then from her body, layer by layer as she went
through the night.

The old men who stood in the pub doorways called to her. They drunkenly laughed and called at her. The woman couldn't hear them. In her world she was alone. She lunged past them. She could see the sparkle of the lake in the distance and she pushed herself to move faster.

Thoughts whirled through her mind. Memories flooded her and washed away all reason. She came to the edge of town and stopped. She stood on the cliff overlooking the icy lake remembering them. The baby she lost. The unborn child that had died inside her. The son that had never taken a breath.

She replayed the scene in her head a thousand times. Her stomach had felt strange that day. The baby hadn't moved in a while. She had sent for the midwife, but sometime before the woman arrived the lifeless child had come. She had lain there holding her son until her midwife had taken him from her.

The tears fell harder now than ever before as she stood half dressed in the freezing darkness. Her chest pounded louder than a thousand stampeding horses. Her sides ached with a pain almost unbearable.

Her thoughts strayed to her husband. They had been so young when they married. It had only been a few years ago, but they had grown old and weary in that time together. They had matured too early as their troubles had come. They had loved each other dearly, but had grown distant after the death of their son. He had left for the war so he would not have to endure their painful silences, but he never knew that he wouldn't return to her.

The news had come to her just hours ago. A car pulled up outside their quiet townhouse and a uniformed officer stepped out. He walked briskly to the door where she met him and politely invited him in. He had delivered the heavy news in a professional manner. There had been an attack. The bomb had been the death of many and no remains had been recovered.

She had given an uncomprehending nod and he had left her in the parlor alone. She sat there numb and dazed for hours. His words were just beginning to sink into her when she had made her final run from reality.

Now, standing there on the edge she longed to more than ever to be with her husband and child. She saw them dancing together in the black water below. They were happy and calling to her. They needed her as she longed for them. She chose her fate then. She took only one step more and fell into forever.

By: Emily Dykes