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I woke up after a particularly loud thunderclap had sounded. I looked over at the small electronic alarm clock on the bedside table. It read 4:07 AM. I looked over to my side and realised that Four was no longer next to me in bed. This was normal. Often, he would go to bed early and get up anywhere between 3-5 in the morning. Out of curiosity, I decided to get up and look for them. As I walked into the small kitchen, I noticed a yellow sticky note stuck to the refrigerator door. As I walked over, I pulled it off of the refrigerator to read it. It read,
’I'm going to the peak. I won't be back. Don't try to follow me.’ -Four
The peak. What is the peak? What do they mean by ‘I won't be back'? The note also looked like it was very quickly scribbled out and hurriedly stuck on the refrigerator. I started to panic, calling out their name.
“Four? Four? Are- are you in here?” All I got in response was the clattering of raindrops on the metal roof of the house, and a slight whistling from the wind blowing through the trees outside. Oh no.. the front door was cracked open a small bit. Panicking, I ran out the front door and started yelling out their name.
“Four! Four?” I begin hyperventilating, running off into the woods. My heartbeat quickening, my breatj coming n sharp gasps.I ignored the stinging cold as the freezing raindrops hit my skin, the thin foliage in the trees not offering much cover. Something in the back of my mind was telling me to go to the dividend cliffs. As the forest began to thin, I saw Fours silhouette walking towards the edge of the cliff. It happened so quickly, but seemed like it played in slow motion. As Four stepped over the cliff, he turned. Not Much, but as he began to fall, I thought I heard him shout something. But over the noise of the rain, I couldnt hear what his last words were.
It was now 29 hours and counting since it happened. As I sat on the edge of the cliff, I plucked a tuft of grass from the ground and began to fiddle with it in my hand. It was a rather nice piece of grass, strong and bright green, full of life. It had a sort of purity to it, like the quiet after a storm.
I still remembered my last conversation with him. It was funny how something so small was so meaningful. If it hadn't been for what happened, I probably wouldn't even remember that conversation. Such a simple, short little thing, just a piece of everyday life. He seemed happier than he had been lately. Tired, but happy.I guess now I knew why.
The sun was almost fully up, the edges of the horizon still tinted orange from the sunrise. As I looked around, I took in the memories of my surroundings. In the valley below, I could see the tree I sat under when me and four started looking for my value. Behind me a few metres to the right, the bench where me and four would often come and admire the scenery of the Algebraic Valley. I recalled our last conversation, only a few hours before he jumped.
“Four, don't you think it's a bit cold out to have the window open?”
“Oh, it's not that cold out. Plus, the fresh air is kinda nice.” He replied, letting out a chuckle at the last part. I shrugged, not really caring that much.
“Well, if you say so.”
I still remembered seeing his mangled body at the bottom of the cliff, his limbs twisting and turning every which way, the way their blood was spattered over the wet grass, pooling around his body and splashing with the rain. I still remember how I cried, how five had to hold me back from his corpse. I felt a tear trickle down my face, and stifled a sob. Overwhelming thoughts filled my head. I should have stopped him, I should have told him I loved him, I should have done something, I could have done something. I couldn't stop myself from breaking down into tears again, holding my hands to my face as I pulled my knees up to my chest. I sat there, and cried. I don't know how long I was there, or when I stopped. I guess it wasn't that important to be honest.