The Tipping Point

[selphie_trabia†]

It was stupid o'clock. The time when most people weren't awake and those who were were dopey as all heck. Sarah climbed up the steps at the end of the hallway next to the science labs in Bayview High. The security guards were easy to avoid. After being on the island, everything else seemed like childs play.

She stopped for a moment next to her old locker, fiddling with the combination. It wouldn't open, of course, they'd changed the combination ages ago, she'd technically graduated two years ago.

She didn't even manage to get through college. Looking at examination papers gave her a panic that she couldn't control. She'd dropped out before her first term was up. Her parents were understanding, of course, they told her she needed time to heal. So, she stayed at home. Some days, she didn't even want to go out of the house.

They were letting her handle sharp things again - knitting needles and sewing kits, though she still had some trouble with sewing kits. Her hands still shook whenever she tried to sew something. Something happened to her voice too. She couldn't sing anymore. Ever since the media mobbed her house, she couldn't even bring herself to talk. The doctors said that her problem was psychosomatic, but that didn't really help matters any.

She climbed out of the window, grabbing the rungs of the ladder that led up to the roof. After a last, single push, she climbed onto the flat surface, covered in bits of gravel. She sat down, hands gripping the edge of the roof, legs dangling over the edge. It was so dark. She couldn't even see all the way to the ground.

Sarah lay down, letting her legs dangle over the roof's edge, contemplating the position of the stars. She'd escaped, of course, but not really. Even when she closed her eyes, she could still see Remy's head explode, feel her heart beating quickly. Those nights, she'd wake up in a cold sweat.

She peered over the edge again.

Maybe tonight?

Brendan came to see her every so often, she liked that. Sometimes, she'd draw pictures for him. She wasn't very good at drawing though.

Maybe not tonight. She'd make Brendan sad.

She leaned over the edge a little more.

A few moments later, there was no trace of Sarah on the roof of Bayville High.