Peaceful Fall (Short Story)

I’m standing near the edge of the red metal bridge. Golden? Why do you call it something it isn’t? When I was little I thought that it was a bridge made of solid gold, it seemed so magical. The magic is all but gone now, the tips of my shoes are in the air. Nothing but the blue green water is below me. Black hair flows in front of my pale face. Up here it is peaceful, cold zephyr fills the air around me. I had a dream once, I fell off my balcony, looking out at the world as I got closer to the ground. My family continued talking in the distance as I reached the sidewalk below. Now I think of it, in my dream I was afraid, now I feel nothing but calm. I smell salt water. It’s as if I’m being invited down, I creep closer to the edge. Now only about half of my foot remains on the bridge. I feel a tinge of freedom as I inch closer allowing myself to lean forward a bit. My foot slips, I should be scared, but I am smiling. People rush toward me but it’s too late, I see the sky and nothing else. Time seems to slow down as I float downward. In a few seconds, my head is under water, I can no longer hear the screams of the people still up on the bridge. As I am engulfed in benumbing blue. Before my eyes fall closed, I look up at the sky. Finally I’ll be where I belong, with the stars.