Opening
Isabella finished her fake exchange with Jamie, this was the last time she would ever pretend like she had a strange obsession with the clouds, the lying was over. She would no longer have to cover her pain and suffering with a childlike interest in clouds, she could be honest with herself. She was afraid, hurt, distant.
She couldn't stand to go another day of listening to her father berate her, she couldn’t go another day feeling like a worthless liar, there were no options left. Isabella had caught herself in a web of her problems and this was her fault. She shuffled her feet forward, directing her sorrowful gaze to the street below her.
She inhaled deeply and shakily, lifting her foot preparing to propel herself into the bustling street below her.
This is it, she thought, inhaling again, this time with more certainty as she began to accept her fate.
She looked at the thin wisps of white fluff floating miles and miles above her before nodding confidently, pushing a few pieces of her thick dark hair behind her ear. And just like that, she felt her feet leave the safety of the building as she leapt forward and began to fall towards the concrete at a rapid pace.
Isabella let herself fall, crying tears of joy as she knew she was finally done with this facade. This was what she had waited for, but as the ground became closer and closer as she hurtled toward it, her death finally becoming the next step, there was no more time for contemplation.
She shook her head as her life began to replay in her head, she had accomplished nothing but telling lies and getting shoved to the side, this couldn't be it, she couldn't let herself live a life so worthless that it barely mattered to her when it was about to be gone. There had to be at least one thing she was proud of before she left this world behind.
"No no no!" She exclaimed furiously, shaking her head and flailing her legs helplessly, trying to push herself back up. She cried loudly, screaming for help until she was only a few feet above the ground.
Her face froze in horror and regret as she was suddenly stopped just above the ground, her foot just barely grazing the surface of the cement.
Her limbs looked like they were barely moving towards the ground and she slowly shifted her eyes as she made direct eye contact with Jamie.
He watched in shock as it seemed like she had wrapped herself in a bubble of barely moving time. Everything around her moved at the same pace but she was stuck just above the ground.
After an elongated period of time she crashed into the ground, Jamie on top of her, his breath moving almost as fast as hers, clearly shaken by the turn of events. He had prepared himself for the loss of his friend just as Isabella has prepared for the loss of her life, both were proved wrong by what seemed like an awakening of power inside of Isabella.
"Isabella!" He cried, grabbing her hands as he gently pulled her upright and looked at her with bright glossy eyes filled with hope and relief.
"You're alive! H-how?... Isabella?" He asked, noticing she had said nothing, only breathed deeply before she burst into tears and tore her hands out of Jamie's, quickly standing up, and stumbling backward before she leaned on a wall for support.
"It's okay! You'll get to the clouds someday, I'm just glad you're safe!" Jamie reassured her, rising from the ground as well, and making his way towards her with open friendly arms, ready to give her whatever comfort she needed.
"N-no-" Isabella shook her head, she was trapped again, in her fake life, wrapped up in her lies.
"No don't come near me!" She screamed, stepping back defensively.
Jane took a few more cautious steps forward, getting closer to Isabella who was barely managing as she leaned against the wall, gasping for breath and shaking.
"I said don't come near me!" She screamed, propelling herself forward, grabbing Jane's shoulders as she shoved him to the ground.
He hit with a loud thump and then grabbed his arm in pain, not expecting such a harsh push from her.
His expression told Isabella everything Jane couldn't tell her through the shock, the pure disappointment and fear; fear of her, disappointment in her.
"I don't care about the- the stupid clouds! I never did!" Isabella admitted, wrapping her arms around herself, shivering as the cold wind battered her face and cut right through her black shirt.
"I lied!" Isabella closed her eyes, backing away, afraid of Jane's reaction.
"Then why did you jump?!" He exclaimed furiously, not seeing the point in making him go through all that for a lie.
Isabella opened her eyes and shook her head, tears still streaming down her face. This was the first time she had ever told the truth, and she decided it would be the last. It was too painful, and she hadn't even finished.
She opened her mouth to answer, but couldn't get anything out between her sobs.
She looked around for the first time, realizing that a crowd of people had surrounded them, wanting to hear the exchange of words they shared, but also because of her moment of seemingly slowed time, they had questions; and Isabella could feel every one of them eating away at her.
"You know why." She silently mouthed.
