C5 A big Leap

All I could say was I am sorry. To myself.

The morning sun bathed the world in a soft glow, casting long shadows as I left the hotel room just before dawn. I didn't want to wake him, the stranger who had become an unexpected partner in a night of passion and escape.

Zane had been gentle, considerate, and understanding. I had no regrets; if anything, his touch had momentarily eased the ache within me.

It was the best night of my life.

As I stood on the bridge overlooking the gushing sea below, a mix of emotions swirled within me. My body still hummed from the intensity of the night, a sweet memory amidst the turmoil that had come before. Yet, my gaze was drawn to a billboard sign that loomed in the distance.

There, in bold letters, was a celebration of my stepsister and Jaxon—the grand wedding that had stolen the spotlight. "Hotel Conglomerate and Fashion Icon Aurora Stark Getting Married to the Prince of Northern Isles." The world celebrated them, the union of power and prestige.

And what did I have? A night that no one knew about, a secret that was mine alone to hold. A past that feels like it never even existed.

I felt small, and insignificant against the backdrop of their success and happiness. It was as if I had faded into the shadows, my existence erased by the grandeur of their love story. No one cared about Ember. No one remembered my name. All that I once held dear was now handed over to Aurora as if I were a mere footnote in her life.

The pain in my chest was almost unbearable. It clawed at me, a reminder of the emptiness that had taken root within me.

The weight of my mother's absence pressed down on me, the void she left in her wake aching in the depths of my soul.

Tears welled up as I whispered, my voice carrying the weight of my grief, "Why did you leave, Mum? Why? It's so painful without you."

Desperation and despair gripped me, and in that moment, the bridge's edge seemed inviting. The call of oblivion beckoned, promising an escape from the pain that consumed me. With trembling hands, I climbed onto the edge, staring down at the churning sea below. The world seemed distant, the ache within me too overwhelming to bear.

"I am sorry to me. To everyone. To Hailey. To mum for not looking for you. You always told me to hold on and never give up. But I can't hold on anymore. I am sorry. I am sorry"

My eyes burst into tears as I closed it. My heart clenched in pain as I took in a deep breath.

And then... I leaped off the bridge.