Edge of Life

Veronica was standing on the edge of her favorite cliff that she loved to go hiking at with her friends. As Veronica stands at the edge of the cliff her arms are stretched out with the intention to jump. Before she can take a step forward she pauses at the sound of footsteps behind her. The footsteps belong to one of her best friends, Richard. When Veronica turns around to face Richard he quickly runs to her with embrace. He takes her into his arms and quickly pulls her away from the edge of the cliff as her eyes start to water in tears.

As Veronica’s best friend, Richard knows what she’s been going through and why she wants to jump. His heart is still racing with disbelief that he was just barely able to stop her from killing herself. As Veronica silently flows with tears of sadness she accompanies Richard to a seat away from the edge of the cliff. Richard really wants to help her, but he can’t think of anything to say. Veronica also can’t think of anything to say so she decides to show Richard how she feels by pulling out her phone.

As Veronica starts going through her camera roll the first picture she stops at and holds up to Richard is one of her and her ex boyfriend, Vic. Richard instantly knows what she is feeling. He knows that part of her internal agony comes from being cheated on and hurt by the ex-boyfriend who she never thought would betray her in a million years. Richard quickly thought to rebuttal her photo expression with a picture of his own. He quickly went through his phone and found a lively photo of Veronica in a happy and joyous spirit celebrating her first birthday following her breakup.

When Richard showed the photo to Veronica her mind suddenly had flashes of her post breakup life. She started to remember how much of a better person she had become after the breakup because she left a toxic relationship that was imprisoning her in a dark place. She also started to remember the freedom she felt that gave her a whole new sense of appreciation for life and everyone accompanying her on her life journey.

Richard’s photo calmed Veronica down a little bit, but then she went through her phone and pulled out another photo of her at her job and held it up for Richard to see. Richard knew off the top of his head that this was her way of expressing how depressed she was for losing her job, a job that she really enjoyed. Richard’s instincts quickly told him to go through his phone and show her another photo of his own. He went through his camera roll and found the photo of a company called “Lifewriter and Friends”. Veronica suddenly remembered how unhealthy her previous work environment became in recent months and how she was aspiring to go to “Lifewriter and Friends” because it was a potential better opportunity anyway, plus it was more her area with better benefits.

Though Richard’s photo had once again made Veronica feel better her heart was still in a bind. With tears still running down her cheeks she showed him one last photo, it was a picture of her mother. Richard could not be as quick this time because he understood how deep this wound cut Veronica. Her mother died not even a full month ago and this tore Veronica’s heart out. Her mother was her best friend, she looked up to her so much and loved her more than anything. When Veronica’s mother died from cancer this sent her deeper into a downward spiral.

Richard thought longer and harder about what Veronica needed to see and the first thing he did was reach not for his phone, but into his pocket where he kept a small figurine statue of Jesus Christ on the Holy Cross. When he showed it to Veronica she was reminded of the faith she always carried to help her through hard times and how she had even helped Richard find faith of his own. She also remembered how her mother told her before she passed away that she would be in heaven watching over her and that they would one day be together again forever.

Richard did not stop with his cross. He then started going through his phone and found pictures of himself, Veronica and the rest of their friend group and started showing them to Veronica. While studying those photos Veronica realized in that moment that she was not alone and that no matter how hard life was, she was not alone. She knew she had friends who loved her very much that would always be there to see her through the toughest of times and that there was light at the end of every dark tunnel she walked through, where hope for the future lay ahead.

Veronica embraced Richard with a tight hug and a new wave of tears. This time it was tears of joy because she was thankful that he reminded her of why she needed to keep on living. Richard hugged her back with tears of joy of his own. They stood up together and with peace in their hearts for the new life they had just been given and departed the cliff as one.