At two thirty in the morning I am all ready to go. I have nothing to take with me, except the note that everyone is supposed to bring, and of course my pounding heart. I fold the slip into my pocket, and climb out my window without bothering to take a jacket. The lights in my parent’s bedroom are off, and outside the world is dark, although the sky is speckled with stars and the moon looms overhead like a lighthouse beacon. I slowly close the window behind me, careful with my footing on the slick tin roof.

The breeze is chilly outside, but I do not notice. My mind is heavy with excitement and wonder. I kneel down on the cold surface, hanging onto the gutter as it creaks with my weight. I let go.

I land on my feet, but my knees give out and I end up on my butt. I stand up, but I do not wipe off my dirty jeans, and I walk down through the field. I know better than to cross the cattle guard; it sets off the security alarm inside the house. So instead I walk down to the creek, and even though it is narrow enough to jump over, I step into the cold water anyway. It spills over my flip-flops and I stand there for a moment, allowing the night air to whip around my shoulders. I don’t want to hesitate any longer, so I jog up the hill that looms in front of me.

My cell phone vibrates in my pocket when I am halfway to the bridge. I receive a text message from Amber, saying, “I am already here, no one else is.” I send a quick reply telling her I’ll be there soon, and chuckle to myself knowing that she would of course be there an hour early. We aren’t supposed to meet until 4a.m..

My body shakes as I hear the river gurgling, and the excitement rushes over me, knowing that I am nearly there. It is 3:34 according to my cell phone; the perfect time that I wanted to arrive. Amber is sitting with her legs dangling over the edge of the water, 40 feet below us. She doesn’t look up, but says, “I’ve always wanted to sit like this, but I was scared I would fall. It’s so wonderful to live without the fear of dying now. This week has been magical, waiting for this night.” I sit down beside her, and in the moonlight I can see that tears are drying on her cheeks. I am not surprised.

We sit silently, on the very edge, and we think about everything we are going to lose, and everything that we are about to receive. She leans over and hugs me, tightly, knocking me a little off-balance and I grab onto the wooden planks of the bridge by instinct. After realizing that I’m holding on, I let go. I wouldn’t mind falling right now, with my arms wrapped tight around my best friend. But I have a promise to keep.

The river looks so far away, with its wide, flat banks. It is surprisingly shallow, only ankle deep. I imagine our mangled bodies lying in the icy water, which would probably flow right around us. The image puts a horrified look on my face, but it feels warm in my heart.

Josh shows up next, and then Joey. When Melissa arrives, she asks us about our notes, and what each of us has written. “We shouldn’t say,” I tell her. “We don’t need to know each other’s secrets. I want to leave with peace.” No one says anything else, and we all have our slips of paper held tightly in our hands. I don’t think anyone wants to reveal whom they wrote to, or what they were going to say.

We made a deal that everyone should bring a slip of paper, telling what lies beneath this bridge for them. We will all share a little piece of the story; different words, but with the same ending.We will leave the number that we want called when our ending is discovered. We are going to slip the pieces between the nails and the wooden boards of the bridge, and hope whoever finds them will contact the numbers written. That is, if they ever think to look over the edge at the beauty that will lie below.

Josh and Melissa used to date; they were together for nearly 9 months. They had a sort of rough ending; painful words were said. Neither have been the same.

Soon Autumn, Mason, and Travis show up. We are all here. Mason and I have been dating for three months, although what we have is a casual relationship. We talk on the phone sometimes, and we smile in the hallways, but not a whole lot happens. We have only held hands once, and we do not say, “I love you”.

Autumn has the most to live for. She was living happily. When we planned our idea, we didn’t want to invite her. We knew she would come along, and we didn’t want to ruin her life if she wasn’t ready. After talking it out, we realized she would be devastated if we left her behind. She would rather stay with her friends forever.

Travis is the one who is broken completely. His life is shattered, beyond the point of being repaired. His father is abusive. Two weeks ago he beat Travis's sister so badly she was hospitalized. She died the next day. We're doing this for him. As a family; when one of us falls, we will all go together.

Melissa has been to hell and back, time and time again. She has nothing but shit coming towards her still. Her life has been never ending pain, and she simply doesn't have the strength left to fake a smile anymore.

Mason, well I’m not sure what is happening with Mason. He isn’t very open about things. Something has been going on, and when I mentioned our idea to him, he seemed grateful to have a release.

We look uneasily at each other, then we gather in a circle in the middle of the bridge. Someone’s teeth are chattering, but I cannot determine whom. Possibly my own. Amber squeezes my hand. Someone is talking, but I’m not sure what was said. Then we are all placing slips of paper into the bridge, walking overtop our gateway out of here, listening to the creaking as it sighs. I drift back to the days where my family was whole, sitting around a table eating a homemade meal. There is laughter there that I haven’t heard in months. Soon it is interrupted, and the dinner goes to hell. My brothers both move out. They do not come back home. I am all-alone in that big old house, lost in its many walls. I am forgotten in its rooms. My parents continue to live like nothing’s changed, but I have my brother’s screen names. I read their profiles. Life hasn’t gone well since they left, for them or for me. I try to contact Jamie, but he says he has no need for me. I do not try Ben.

I blink and find myself surrounded again. We have formed another circle. This time we all hold hands, a strong bond flowing between us more forceful than the river below. I’m connected to Amber, who is holding me so tight I just might break. Mason, on my left side, is holding my hand gently, but with determination. I know he won’t let go. We don’t ever touch like this, and I sneak a peak at him with his head lowered. I can tell even through his closed eyes that he is far beyond me, and his concentration is not on our slight physical contact, but something much greater than that. I am just the one who happened to be beside him; we are touching by pure coincidence, not because of his wanting to. Theres a little pang in my chest, but I try to be unselfish and realize there is more going on in his life than our small relationship. True, I have wanted to connect with him for a long time, and I have been longing for our relationship to grow. I was satisfied, however, even with just his smile. Simply his presence knocks me off my feet.

We are in a prayer circle, and each person whispers their own moment of worship aloud as we prepare for what is about to become of us.

Amber says, “Dear Heavenly Father, please forgive my sins, and I am sorry for all the times that I have wronged. Be with my family and give them peace and love. The world will keep spinning without my presence, and I ask that you watch over these beings as you did for me. I pray for peace around the world, and for faith to fill the hearts of every nonbeliever. Amen.”

“Amen,” we echo. Amber is the traditional believer, faithful to her religion and involved in her church. It is hard for her to commit such a sin, but even she has doubts in our Father when times get really rough. She believes the world is slipping, and that Jesus has left the hearts of many. Including that of her family. Her family goes to church, sings in the choir, and teaches Sunday school. Yet, they do not act Christianly, and they speak awful words of hate. She wants to sacrifice her soul for the better outcome of the world.

On my slip of paper I wrote to Ben, although I don’t know why. I told him that I left this world with my family, because these people are the closest thing I’ve ever had to one. I told him that I hope he still thinks of me, and that I have prayed for him every night since he left. I left his cell phone number scribbled at the bottom. I said that underneath the bridge is not an ending, but an all-new beginning. Its my second chance to make things right. And underneath this bridge, my new family can find peace.

When it is my turn to speak, I begin slowly, because I don’t know what to say. “Lord, I know I have sinned many times. I have committed many wrongs. Please forgive me, I am sorry. I’m not sure what to say aloud, but I know you are looking into my heart and seeing everything that I cannot find the words for.” I pause, unsure. “I’m sure You will always know of my everlasting love to You. For all of my loved ones that I have left on this Earth, give them peace. Send your love to Jamie and Ben. And give them my apologies. Amen.”

“Amen.”

Mason starts very softly; his voice is always very fragile. “Dear God, thank you for watching over us in all of our hard times. Be with us throughout this night and help us make it safely to wherever we are supposed to go. As for myself, I cannot say that I am sorry enough times.” His voice cracks, but becomes stronger. “Can you tell my sister goodbye for me? I never meant to hurt her. Please help her through her life.” He pauses, and squeezes my hand. “I realize that confessing to my sins now isn’t going to do much good, but I truly want to apologize for all I have done wrong. Amen.”

“Amen,” we chorus. I wonder if he squeezed my hand to tell me that his last line was meant for me. I cannot recall a time where he has ever upset me, but somehow that signal seems to be important.

For Joey, this is a friendship thing. When his friend gets stabbed, Joey is the one who bleeds. He feels the pain of all his friends, and yet he is able to help them through. He can spend the day solving everyone else’s problems, becoming their lifesaver, and go home completely devastated with what is left of his own broken life. Scars etch the stories of his loved one’s pain across his own wrists. He takes the beating of everyone around him, because for him it’s easier to feel the physical pain than to watch the sadness in other’s eyes. He’s the one that’s been on drugs, experimented with cigarettes and alcohol. He’s tried everything, but he’s never found the cure for pain.

Josh has such a good heart. He’s just a child, and there’s always a smile on his face, even when in his eyes he’s dying. I think he has worn that smile far too long, he cannot keep running forever. He has never tried to face his fears; he hides. He runs. He pretends that it’s ok. He tries to move on, but it’s going to catch him. It may have already done just that.

Travis is the last to say his prayer, and after the “Amen,” we gather in a hug, and say our final goodbye.

I run to Mason, I sweep him into my arms. I do what I have been wanting to for the last three months. “I love you.” I say it as a whisper but it comes out loud and strong. He wraps himself around me, pulling me into his tall lean figure. I fit easily there, my small body against his tight chest. I lean into him, and he holds me up. All this time that we had been together, I have always called him mine, although I never really felt the connection. Now all of that empty time has been folded into one delicious moment. HIs body heat on my own skin is a sensation that words could never put to glory.

“I love you too,” he says, and my heart melts.

I open my eyes years later and everyone is watching us. Even he is looking at me, and I am still wrapped around him. I unfold myself and pull away shyly, but he grabs for my hand. We walk towards the others, and Amber is watching me closely. She comes over to me, and pulls me away.

“Anna, you can’t do this now. You can’t leave your life. I’ve never seen such happiness in your eyes. Don’t do this.”

“That’s why I must leave now. Tonight. While I’m happy. Because it never lasts.”

Amber stares at me, trying to figure me out. “But you love him, you should be with him. You guys make each other happy.”

“I do love him. I want to spend the rest of my life with him. And I want to die with him. If tonight is the rest of my life, then I’ll be satisfied with the ending. At least this is for sure.”

She hugs me so tightly, and then says, “I could never leave a man like that. But then again, you’ve always done everything that I could not.”

“We’re not leaving,” I say. “This is our beginning.”

She gives me an unsure smile, and we walk back over to everyone else, where they stand looking over the edge. Josh and Melissa share a shaky hug, and whisper hushed apologies. Mason comes to my side, and holds onto my hand. It feels so natural, like he has been here all my life. And yet there is a new sensation crawling down my spine with the touch of his skin, sending warm currents through my blood. I don’t want this to ever end, and I’m afraid it could stop any second, so I look up to everyone, and say, “Are you ready?”

I see a few nods, so I grab Amber’s hand, and she holds onto Josh, until everyone is in a chain. I look to Mason and he says it one last time. Only one word this time. “Love.” Suddenly that explains everything he has been holding back and it gives me the courage to run and leap. The others follow, still linked by our hands, and we fall all the way to ground as one unbreakable bond. As we fall, there is nothing but silence because nobody screams; we are all ready.

Although our bodies are mangled, Mason and I are clearly lying together; our remains look as one. You could swear Amber’s fingers are in the shape of a heart. Travis lays face down, swallowing water and eating the dirt. Josh stares up into the sky, still looking for the future. Melissa landed softly, finally a peaceful end to her tragedy. But Autumn fell brutally, and her long curly red hair dances in the current, giving her beauty even after life. Joey is the center of all our bodies, the only one strong enough to connect and hold us all together. His promise still rings true-"I will keep tight our family, til death and beyond."