"That's what I'm asking you to do. I'm sorry. It just has to be," she said to him.

"So...you want it now?" he replied. Still gentle. Still so kind. A little troubled. He looked at the ground nervously.

The girl nodded. Swallowing a lump in her throat. She took a deep breath. It quivered. Inhale. Exhale. A slow wooshing out. A single tear rolled down her left cheek. She brushed it away before he saw it. Her face ached from trying to smile. She cleared her throat.

His stare was nailed to the ground. He looked at her toes. They wiggled. Impatiently? He breathed deeply and said softly, "Anything. Right." He looked back up into her eyes. She was smiling tightly. He caressed her cheek, then turned away abruptly.

She watched him walk towards the cliff. Not once did he look back. He watched him jump off. Without a sound, without pausing.

She started at the dull thud from below. She whimpered softly. Her face crumbled in sorrow, and she knelt on the dust, whispering repeatedly. To the wind. To the silence. To him.

"Wait. Not yet. Not yet."