The Offer

[Charlotte]

Time slows. My breathing stops.

Have you ever had one of those moments where you see all of your mistakes in one flash, and you know that this moment will be yet another mistake, perhaps the last mistake you make in your sad, short life?

As I fell backward, I watched as time seemed to stop and then flow backward, my arms slowly flying as my legs let go and my back leaned me over the railing.

I begin to fall.

Closing my eyes, I wait to hit the bottom, not wanting to see my end approaching.

Except that I do not hit bottom.

Instead, strong hands grab me by the arms, anchoring me, stopping my trajectory, and keeping me from toppling over the edge. These hands continue to pull me towards them until my forward momentum moves me in the opposite direction until I am falling forward, landing against his impressive chest. He pulls me in tightly, holding on with both arms wrapped around my back, enveloping me with the musky blend of sandalwood and sage.

“I have you, I won’t let you f