Angel's Cliff by Daxteriana Jackson (books for 8th graders txt) 📖

Angel's Cliff

By: Daxteriana Jackson

From above the water, I looked down to see the waves crash relentlessly against the cliff I stood upon. I could hear the voices of my family, friends, and fellow villagers erupt behind me, yelling at me not to jump. I could hear the girls of the village crying, screaming, not wanting me to leave.

The voice of my mother echoed above the others.

"Christopher, you don't want this! Think of us, son, think of what you'll do to us!" she cried. I dared not to turn around and stare into her tearful eyes, the same ones that comforted me only hours ago.

My mind was full of thoughts; my eyes tearful; my heart broken, only cracks that bled with emotion. Father never cared about her, the only girl that actually accepted me... Maria...

"Christopher," I heard a girl shout from the crowd of spectators. I turned my head and looked back, only to cringe away from Maria's beautiful face.

Maria had a power over me, a power I could not describe. It wasn't lust, but deeper than love; a mysterious power that only she had.

I heard her footsteps meet the stone pathway that led to where I stood.

"Maria, get back! That boy shares nothing with us! He's an outcast! Leave him be and let him die," the local priest said.

Maria ignored him and continued walking towards me. She stopped beside me, grabbing my hand.

The crowd behind us gasped. I heard my mother squeal, then someone hitting the stone.

I stared back down into the thrashing waves, clutching Maria's hand tighter. Her hand clenched mine too.

She stood on her toes and whispered in my ear. “Forget them. They don't understand us and they never will. I'll jump with you. I'll be beside you forever, the only one that knows the truth.”

I jerked my head to the side, confusion and hope filling my eyes. Her lips stabbed mine with chilling pleasure, but it left as quickly as it came.

"You love me, as do I. I love you, Christopher," she whispered.

She pulled away, her eyelids open. Her eyes shone with a strange mix of happiness and sadness. I knew mine had to shine like hers because she gave me a small---yet reassuring---smile. I kissed her forehead and stepped forward, my anticipation building.

Her feet fell in rhythm with mine as we stepped towards the edge of the cliff and the end of our lives.

A light shone before us. We looked up to the skies. I glanced over at Maria to see that she closed her eyes. I closed mine too and took a step forward. She followed closely behind.

Thoughts that encircled my mind and fought against themselves relaxed and collapsed, letting the world fall around me.

We both stopped with our toes hanging over the ledge. We both turned around when we heard footsteps upon stone, screaming, and curses. We glanced at each other, fear glistening in her eyes.

We leaped forward, soon pulled down by gravity. She stared to stars, watching her world fade against the dying specks of light. Maria closed her eyes, her grip on me loosening. I pulled her closer to me, hugging her to my body.

I looked towards the horizon to see a beautiful creature with glowing, white wings; the beauty expanded behind her. She drifted closer to me and placed her warm hand upon my cheek.

She looks like Maria, I thought.

I closed my eyes and buried my face in Maria's hair as we hit the water. I felt bones in my body crack and shatter from the blow. I held onto Maria limply. She was as broken as me.

My vision started to blur and turn black. I saw the angel from before floating in front of me. Another angel appeared; he was male, and he looked like me. He grinned at me and waved.

My vision faded, darkness enveloping. My corpse floated to the bottom of the water, hugging Maria's body eternally.

Publication Date: 06-17-2010

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