Ribbons in the Wind

Ribbons in the Wind.

More grief to hide than hate to utter unto this world. William Shakespeare

I stood upon the rough stone. life was so peaceful up here. Nobody wanted anything more from me than what I could give. The wind whipped my robes around me like a swarm of black sparrows where sewn to it, each desperately trying to escape me. I couldn't blame them. What had I to offer them? They deserved more than I could give.

I looked down. I could end it. Either I would be impaled on the turrets that littered the place, or I would be torn by the rocks below them. Torn to ribbons in the wind. Glorious wind. Flowing free around me. And those rocks would be stained with my blood forever.

There was a girl I once knew. I loved her, I think. She was so beautiful. My father and her father know each other, some way or the other. She was always so cold, and so pure. Like a frozen lily lost in the snow. So tall and so proud, and yet she was so fragile. The merest touch wound shatter her to a million pieces. She threw herself from this very balcony. Her blood still stains those rocks, and I am the only one who can still see it. That was many years ago, when we where in Hogwarts together. That day made me cold to the world. She gave me her ice. She pleaded with me before she leapt. Begged me to go with her. But I wouldn't. I was so young, and I didn't have the cares that I now carry. I tried to pull her back, but she broke away from me. She broke away. frightened, and I ran.

I remember that the new teacher, McGonagall, was the one to find her broken body. Cut to ribbons in the wind on those sharp rocks.

I wish now that I had gone with her. I wish it every moment of my life.

The sparrows on my robes pulled me harder. Taking my knife I sliced the robes away from my body. The birds flew, taking my robes with them to answer the call of the south.

I looked again it those rocks, at the turrets. So simple. So easy. Everything would end when I take that final step into oblivion. one final step...

"Professor?"

I glanced around. There was a boy standing behind me. Someone I knew, but for the life of me I couldn't remember his name. The son of someone I knew, maybe. Or used to know. He was staring at me with shock and confusion. I must look strange, I thought. Wearing no robes, only the Muggle clothing I've taken to wearing in the cold.

"Yes? what do you want?" I asked as calm as you please. I let my gaze sweep the horizon as I tried to blink away the tears that threatened to spill down my face. They where always there when I thought of Annie.

"Don't do it, Professor!"

"Go to bed, boy."

"Professor, please! I'll go get Dumbledore..."

"Go, then."

He fled. I head his footsteps run down the stairs. Foolish child. He was too young to understand, of course. I wasn't a coward. To fall would be the coward's way out. My kind never give in without a fight.

I turned and was about to step down when a sharp gust of wind knocked me off balance and threw me into the abyss.

I fell.

Down and down I fell, blown about like a rag doll in the storm, until I struck the rocks and was torn to ribbons in the wind.