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Today and Tomorrow, by Mary Wallace

19/6/2020

 
He pushed another pebble with the top of his sneaker and leaned forward to watch it fall from sight. There was just the cliff edge and nothingness. No safety barrier or rock ledge would hinder the pebble -or him. It was the most accessible place with the smallest amount of risk; clear all the way to the bottom. Deep enough to end a worthless life.
​

He glanced again at the loving text message from his mum. Squaring his shoulders and summoning all his courage, he took a step away from the cliff. A backwards step to a new beginning.
Pamela Kennedy
19/6/2020 10:58:26 am

Enjoyed the story...loved the ending!

Mary Wallace
19/6/2020 11:27:18 am

Thanks Pamela. Some things take more courage than others.

Jim link
19/6/2020 03:31:21 pm

Sometimes all it takes is a kind word to make all the difference in someone's world.
Nice ending
Jim

Mary Wallace
19/6/2020 03:37:33 pm

Yep, never stop telling your children how much you love them. Thanks for reading Jim.

Swapan k Banerjee
19/6/2020 04:25:31 pm

Sometimes the 'message' is scribbled in the dark. But one must never stop investigating one's abyss. So says Nabokov. You're a very fine writer, Mary.

Mary Wallace
19/6/2020 10:27:22 pm

Thank you so much Swapan.

Bobby Warner
19/6/2020 05:28:31 pm

A happy ending to what I first thought would be a sad one. All too often we don't see the happy endings, so I rejoice when one comes along. Good story, Mary.

Mary Wallace
19/6/2020 10:29:27 pm

Often the happy endings take the most courage. Thank you for reading Bobby.

Sue Clayton
20/6/2020 02:35:17 am

Deeply meaningful and so much enjoyed.

Mary Wallace
20/6/2020 05:08:30 am

Thanks Sue

Krystyna
20/6/2020 04:20:59 am

Mum saved the rest of his life. If only everyone contemplating suicide would have a loving person like mum in his or her life and not go forward.
You capture the moment beautifully, Mary. Thank you for sharing.

Mary Wallace
20/6/2020 05:11:38 am

Thank you for reading Krystyna. Always make sure your children know how important they are. It can be an awfully hard world for some.

Marjan Sierhuis
20/6/2020 03:34:34 pm

A deeply moving story, Mary in just a few words. Nicely done.

Mary Wallace
20/6/2020 04:16:51 pm

Thank you Marjan for your kind words.


Comments are closed.

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