If there was one thing I wanted to tell myself, before my end, it would be a simple "there's a reason he's fallen". If I had managed, I might not be where I am now; standing at the border between life and death, good and bad. I wouldn't be looking at the stairway up, my eyes admiring the intricate details of the ivory handrail whilst my feet stood on the burnt steps of the stairway down. I wouldn't be looking at my Dad, the sunlight streaming behind him like some angelic ghost, and be hesitating to climb those steps into his soft embrace. I wouldn't be looking at the smiling, knowing, face of this long-haired angel as he gestured to the steps descending into the darkness below. I wouldn't be taking a step down, the pale skin on my bare foot standing out against the charcoaled wood. I wouldn't be smiling sadly at my Dad and waving goodbye with tears in my eyes as I took yet another step down. The knowing smile on the angel's face grew smaller before he touched my hand lightly—a gesture of pity, concern, or admiration I would wonder forevermore—as I took another step lower into the abyss. The lines had blurred; I had blurred them, and now I was paying the ultimate price. Somehow, though, it still seemed worth it. Hot wind gushed up the stairs from below; my skin grew flushed and tingled in response and my long red curls danced as it rushed past. I took one last look at Dad, the angel, and the bright stairway that I dared not touch, before beginning my descent down. It really was a long way down. ********************************************************************* Copyright © 2018 Brooke Kuipers Disclaimer This was the first book I ever finished writing. I like the plot, but some things I definitely want to change. It needs editing and there are a few scenes that are very...Wattpad-inised. As in, I wrote them because they'd do well with the Wattpad majority demographic, not because that's what I originally intended to do. Forewarning, some scenes are cringe and I would delete it all if it didn't have a lot of fans who send me really nice messages. I'm keeping this here for you guys.