She stood on the balcony, looking up at the stars. The entire countryside was quiet, like a room after someone has just passed away. The only sound was that of the crickets, singing the song of the world continuing on, not heeding her solitary pain and confinement.
She fingers the knife, thinking of the different choices she has. Be trapped forever, unified to one who will not care at all for her own interests, or be free from it all, leaving the only person she has left behind in this world.
Not a person could have heard his alighting on the scaffolding, and she did not hear him either, but rather felt the presence of one she had lost. For a moment, the person detains her in sealing her fate.
“Why do you linger here, young man? Did she send you?”
No reply but the steady chirping and the softest breeze. She wonders for just a moment if she is imagining the tingling on her spine, but suddenly he speaks. It is a deep, quiet sound, and she can picture his lips forming the words, although she does not dare turn to him.
“It will be inconvenient if you jumped; a broken body does not suit a beautiful wedding gown.”
“I will not jump.”
“And knives are only fitting in the hands of one such as she.”
“Of course. I do not plan to commit murder tomorrow, though I may tonight.”
“You shall not. I do not wish to interrupt non-existent wedding ceremonies.” He whispers, his hand slinking over and taking the dagger from her hands. She willingly lets him have it; she has nothing more to gain, nor lose.
“I am against all wedding ceremonies, but if you must have your way, my friend, then by all means...” She trails off, her next statement unnecessary. The wind rustles his clothing; loose folds of the deepest, darkest red, coordinated with black that cries of death. Her hair is tied up in a tight bun, else she would run her fingers through it in frustration, but instead she grips the necklace about her neck. In the quiet moment, memories of long ago are awakened, and words from dreams past echo inside her mind...I haunt your dreams. I am in your head and only awakened by your loneliness...And I won't leave you. I'll grant your greatest desire and never, never leave...
Join me...The voice whispers now. The ground looms below her.
“Do not have second thoughts.” The figure says, and she turns to him. To her greatest surprise, he does not move, but continues to look off into the distance, stock-still in the starlight. Only a dark shape is his face, but she can map out every feature without any light to go by.
A breath in, a breath out, they stand in contrast, neither willing to leave, nor willing to let the other know how desperately they are struggling. He turns, stepping up on the railing. His foot rests there for a moment, and she stares at him, waiting. Will he leave, will he stay, the question hangs in the air, unspoken, but well understood.
“I will not be ruled by anyone; neither him, nor you, nor that woman.”
“I know.” He answers, a trace of his true self leaking through as he casts a look down at the ground. Then, in an instant he has blended into the surrounding blackness, a phantom of him still lingering in her vision.
