The Edge Of The World

As I step towards the cliff, the wind pushes hard against me. It may have been trying to convince me to go back the way from whence I came. But I have already traveled that path and it led me here. I make my way to the edge, peering down at the steep drop, I am unable to see the end. A thick gray fog blocks my vision, not only from the drop itself but also from what lies beyond. The cliff continues for miles in either direction, but that worries me not. I am exactly where I need to be.

Behind me is a vast desert that stretches much further than the eye can see. I cannot remember when I started this journey, I only know that it has been too long. I bring myself to sit on the edge to rest for a moment. The wind blows harsher flinging tendrils of my hair all around and nearly knocking me backwards, but it is not enough. Other than the gusts of unrelenting wind, there is no other sound. No birds sing here, no bugs chirp here and no one can save me.

I look up to the sky as my feet dangle over the endless cavern, there is no sun. I no longer feel the heat from the desert that tortured me for so long, I no longer feel anything. For a moment I wonder what led me to this point and if I could have done anything to prevent it but I remind myself it no longer matters. I look back one last time at the wasteland behind me, is it too late to go back? I stand up carefully from the edge and turn around, the wind starts to calm behind me. The sand stops abruptly a few feet from the edge in a clean undisturbed line. The wind seems to have no effect on it, unfortunately.

I walk a few steps forward and pause just before the desert begins. I reach down to touch the sand, just as my hand crosses the invisible threshold, I can feel heat. I take a small handful of sand and hold it gently in my palm, it hurts me. As I sit there taking in the familiar pain of my travels, a small part of me longs for it. Though I could fight and enter the harsh desert once more, it is apparent that I will yet again end up in this place. Deep down I have always known I would end up here. The abyss calls to me.

I turn my back on my pain and make my way to edge yet again. The wind is different this time. I can feel the air caressing my face softly, sadly. I look down at my feet, my toes are hanging just over the edge now. I look past them into the fog, there is too much pain here. All of my life has led me to this one moment, I suddenly feel a small swell of emotion. My decision has been made.

As I sit here on the edge of the world, I can feel all the trials and tribulations of my life compounding into one small tear. I let it drop into void along with any hope I may have had left. The darkness inside weighs too heavily on my heart as I lean forward slightly into the depths. I can feel the vacuum of the fog pulling me further and further over the edge until my legs give out from beneath me.

I fall.