Young Writers Society

As the stars caressed their faces with a strange creamy wind and the Earth below them seemed so diminutive, the lives that went about their pathetic ways so insignificant,Madelyn was for the first time at ease. She was no longer scared or intimidated by such gay things as destiny and future, because for the first time she knew for certain what would come of her; what would be her fate. She wasn't so scared of the missing concrete at the tip of her shoes or her sudden lack of balance as she teetered on the edge. She wasn't scared about what people would think of her, of them; she wascompletely and wholeheartedly at ease, and there was nothing anyone could do about it.

"You ready?" Avery said. Madelyn wasn't sure why Avery was here with them, who was the girl with the rich family and rich life, void of the treacherous things the rest of them had gone through before they could finally grasp their purpose. She could have a future, with a handsome blue eyed blonde haired man with two beautiful children, as they would both be similarly attractive. Avery's hair twisted in a sudden just of wind and turned into a brief torrent of fine golden strands, and as her hair died she turned back to where the city shined her dark eyes. As if her facing Madelyn hadn't been enough to remind her of how perfect Avery was.

No matter, it would all be much better soon. Duncan, a willowy boy with a slash of black hair so fine and long that it hid his hollowed face and reproachful pond colored eyes, for the first time did not hold his usual air of contained irritation. He stood next to Madelyn with his bony shoulders sagging withcontentedness and what features she could see were painted with relief, and even though he did not she smiled. There were two others that had ridden hell until they had finally reached this climax with them, a bulky hard headed inked boy named Brenton and Madelyn's best friend that had stuck with her much longer than the rest had, Eve. Not one of them was aware of her real name, a taboo secret that had tightened the bond between them as young girls, and she wasthe one that led them as hopeless wandering sheep and gave them hope.

We took hands, a thread of individuals strung together for one sole purpose. Past grievances sank their needy clingy fingernails into her chest and sides, clawing and scratching like ravaged orphans, and she was their feeder. She watched distantly as a familiar smile disintegrateduntil salty liquid slipped at the edges and dark crust peppered the bottom lip, quivering like the last leaf on a dying tree to give in toautumn. They formed one word; a name, her name, but they could not guilt her out of her selfishness.

She raised her face to the sky, or more accurately to the stars. Now that she was off the ground she could spot them, because the city's thick cloudy skin could not hide them from her. She felt that in doingthis she might be able to join them, sparks of remaining life to watch over the crumpling Earth they once held so dearly. Yes, she would join them, and watch as the Earth continued its path of selfdestruction.

There was not a command said or a flag drawn to signal the solid movement of five solid bodies moving as one complete creature. The hands that held them together seemed to say that what laid beyond this one great act would finally be what they deserved, not what was forced uponthem. Madelyn did not watch as the toes of her beaten sneakers conquered the part of the shoe that was safely secure on the solid side of the edge, did not watch as the others tipped their heads back also to bathe inthe natural light of the night. Her eyes were on the stars, watching as they flickered and glowed in a haunting beauty, seeming to wink their approval in them. Only when she was inclined too far and could not see them did she finally close her eyes, and she was completely wholeheartedly at ease.

The creamy air suddenly gained strength and appeared to be trying to blow them back on the ledge, but as a freshly turned five bodied creature it could not support their weight. The air blew at her ears and pushed water fromthe corner of her eyes, and danced at the edges of her peaceful smile. Nothing could take control of her, of any of them, again. They had been set free in a righteous act, a climax to the story of them. For the first time they were free of foreboding and the wills of others. For the first time they had gained control and made it so that no one could take advantage of them ever again. They would jointhe stars and start their real lives, looking down and watching as their former Earth suffered and struggled.