A Loss, A Leave-Taking, And A River
At twilight, a couple met by the river. They stepped softly across the wet grass to sit by the side, next to each other, as they had every night for the past year. This night was different. It was not obviously different, the sky was the same shade of black and the stars shone as brightly as they previously had. Tree leaves glistened a soft green and the bark was still hard, brown and bumpy. When the two people were examined, the difference was found.
Vannessa would not sit down, through all Jack’s pleading. She passed him a crisp sheet of paper and crossed her arms over her chest, hugging her guilt. Jack read the paper and threw it to the ground. His face was hard and upset and his black eyes glinted with a fierceness that had replaced the playfulness from before. He stood, unfolding his six-foot frame to tower over Vannessa’s five-feet-four-inches. Vannessa turned and ran, her long, black hair streaming behind her petite frame. She slipped off her silver sandals and ran faster, tears streaming down her face. She slipped into her car and left, almond eyes blinking furiously, so she didn’t drive off the road.
Jack turned towards the river, knowing her father had pushed this on her. He still hated her, especially since her timing was so horrible. The ring burned in his pocket. He was sure its topaz was glistening, the gold setting gleaming. It was too beautiful for him to bear. Jack raised his arm and chucked it as far as it would go, letting loose an animal yell at the same time. He ran after it, unable to let it go, let go of the dream he had been living in for a year. He had known that Vannessa’s parents would never let them continue. She came from a strict Hispanic family that was staunchly Catholic. He had told them, in no uncertain terms, that he did not believe in any God. Jack sat and crumpled the note then tore it. He arranged it together, looking at her writing and gaining some comfort from it.
Jack, you knew it would never work, his subconscious told him. She was too beautiful for you. She was perfect: good grades, nice, beautiful, religious, thought the best of everyone and stayed in the system. You have spent your whole life pushing boundaries and fighting authority. Let her go and get over it. Jack’s other side took over, pushing him onto the edge of the cliff, daring him to jump. Let go of everything. Life is nothing without Vannessa. She meant everything to you. Everything you ever had is gone. Go. Jump. Jack stood at the edge of the river. He took off his jacket, his black leather jacket he loved almost as much as Vannessa. He straightened the creases and made sure the note and ring were firmly in the pockets. He folded the jacket and set it at the side of the river, fingering the two buttons which were his father’s only legacy to him. Jack thought of his mother and how upset she would be. After a second thought, he decided he didn’t care. But he did make sure her book was in his jacket pocket. He stood at the edge. Jack jumped.
The hapless police officer passing by called an ambulance and fished Jack’s body out of the river. Jack was rushed to the hospital but his jacket was left at the side of the river. Vannessa heard that Jack was in the hospital and panicked. She grabbed her Bible and icon, shoved them into the pockets of the first jacket she found in the hall. It was her dad’s and full of his things but she didn’t care. Vannessa rushed to the hospital at top speeds. She ran in and tried to see Jack but couldn’t get in. After ten minutes of idly playing with her father’s yo-yo, the doctors came and told her Jack had left. Vannessa threw her father’s jacket on the hospital’s lawn and drove home to pack her bags. Fifteen minutes later, Vannessa was well on her way to Las Vegas, Nevada to restart her life, tears running down her face.