Before I Fall Novels & Stories

Because of her. Her phone buzzed again sometime after midnight. Ethan: Please. Talk to me. Her chest tightened. She typed three words. Deleted them. Typed again. Then she placed the phone face down. If she answered, she would break. And if she broke, she would choose herself. She couldn’t afford that. The next morning came without mercy. Maya showered mechanically, dressed carefully, applied makeup with steady hands. She chose neutral colors, simple lines of armor disguised as elegance.

The pain and humiliation had burned away my last illusions and hesitation, forcing me to break out of my cocoon. My phone vibrated lightly with a message from my mother. [Sweetheart, I saw your company in the news. Amazing! Take care of yourself. Your dad and I are proud of you.] They were simple words, but they made my eyes sting. I took a deep breath and replied, [Don’t worry, Mom. I’m fine. Better than ever.] I set the phone down and gazed out at the endless night and city lights again. I knew my era was only just beginning.

Suddenly, there was nothing to support me. My balance gave way, breath leaving my body in a sharp gasp as I stumbled forward— And I fell straight into the room. “Fuck!”

" The room went dead silent. Mom clutched her chest, her lips trembling, unable to get a single word out. Something flickered behind Drew's eyes, guilt he couldn't quite hide. Then Brynn dropped to her knees in front of me with a heavy thud. "I'm sorry! It's all my fault!" She sobbed, then started slamming her forehead against the floor, over and over. "I shouldn't have come here and been such a burden! I'll leave. You'll never have to see me again. "Please stop fighting. Please… This is all because of me." She collapsed forward, face down on the floor, crying so hard it sounded like her chest was going to split open.

I could make out through my blurry focus that Scarlet was trying to drag herself towards me, telling me something but I couldn't hear her. I could hear the things falling, falling into pieces. I could feel my roof collapsing, and that's when I lifted my eyes above. The ceiling that was over our basement, crumbled and I watched it fall, Fall on us in slow motion. And I watched it fall, transfixed by it all. Because I knew that I couldn't do anything anymore. I welcomed the pain that came when the ceiling covered me beneath it, taking my breath away. ***********************************************************************************************

“Now you’ve fallen—you’ve lost everything you were meant to be—just because of me!” He pulled back just enough to look me in the eyes, his gaze full of love and quiet certainty. “Haven’t I fallen hard enough? Long before I lost my wings… I had already fallen completely for you. And that fall was far deeper, far more real, and far more permanent than anything else I could ever experience.”

He continued to pull me further away from the hospital until we found a small park just close by. There was a blanket spread out over the grass under a huge tree with a bag on it. "Surprise," he said, "I know it's not much but I can't exactly take you anywhere far from the hospital considering your condition," he said sheepishly as we both sat down. "It's still perfect," I answered. "I really missed the Sun," I smiled. "Anything is seriously better than being stuck in that hospital room." Nick chuckled, "I thought you'd say something like that. Hence I made it even perfect by getting you this," he said and removed the whole Fallen boxset from the bag.

He spoke on his way out, "The baby wipes are on the upper shelf so, don't hurt yourself while getting them. Also, the fresh hand towels are in the lowest drawer." Scarlet stuck her tongue at the boy's back, "I'm not that short! Watch me." Vantae raised an eyebrow at her, gesturing for her to go ahead. The girl huffed, marching into the bathroom. Vantae leaned over the lavatory's doorframe in case she did hurt herself (that you guessed is about to happen). Scarlet bent down to open the drawers in the form of a ladder. She balanced her weight on the seams of the wooden cavity and reached the shelf. Stretching her arm fully, she grabbed the pack of wipes. Vantae sighed, "You could have just ask

The door suddenly closed and she pushed me to the big hole and in an instant, I fell. I fall and fall like there is no end. “Aaaahh!!!” I shouted because of the never-ending fall. I saw her watching me fall with her cold eyes and emotionless face. I keep on falling like I was falling from a very tall building. The pressure is pulling me down. I don’t know where my falling ends but this is better than getting stuck in a place full of agony and hatred. I keep on falling and falling and falling…

When I look into the mirror I see five of myself, all looking pale. Is it the wine? My fears are confirmed when I cough blood into the pristine sink. The red hue moves slowly down the drain as I start to fall. It has never been this painful before. I try to hold on tighter but my hand is slipping, my breath becoming heavier. “Drew…” I try to scream, but my body meets the floor before I can make a sound. The beeping of machines is like a distant song that’s all too familiar. It draws me out from an otherwise dreamless sleep which feels good for a change.