I looked down, down, down at the ground, hundreds of feet below me. I just wasn't worth it. Ever since Mom died last year, Dad had been so withdrawn, he'd been in a shell. Until now. Just last week he finally came out.

* * * * *

"Sarai! These eggs aren't done! Are you trying to poison me?" He bellowed.

Wincing, I poked my head out of the bathroom, hair half done. "I didn't know. You never complained before."

* * * * *

"What is THIS?! You only have an A- in Chemistry?"

"Yeah. So?"

"Don't give me any attitude or..."

"I know." I interrupted. "No phone, no mall, no internet, and no boys." I said, checking the list off on my fingers. He'd only threatened me 37 times that day.

"And no T.V." He added.

"Oh. Right. I forgot."

* * * * *

"Why don't you just leave? You're a big girl now." He had demanded once.

"I don't really know. I've taken care of you for the past year. I've gotten the food, I cooked the meals. I've done the laundry, I've done the dishes, I've even kept the house clean. Why? Because you're my father, and you needed it."

"I don't need that anymore. I don't need you anymore. I can take care of myself just fine. I've been doing that since long before you were even born."

"Why you... ungrateful..." I turned and ran in anger. I could have smacked the man!

* * * * *

I still remembered it. The day Mom had died. I was in school at the time. I didn't get the news until I got home.

* * * * *

"Hello? Mom? Dad?" I said as I opened the door. Strange, the car was outside, and the door was unlocked. I walked through the dining room and into the family room, passing a mirror.

Looking in the mirror, I saw the same thing I saw every day before school. I was still the same tall, brown haired girl I had been the day before. I still had all of the freckles I so hated in the all the same places. I still had the nose that everyone else claimed was perfect that I thought was too big.

Moving on, I finally reached Mom and Dad's room. I thought for a moment before entering when I heard the sobs coming from inside, and waited for a moment.

What's going on? Dad hasn't cried like this since... well... ever! I thought.

Finally, I ran out of patience. Opening the door softly, I looked inside. Dad looked up as the door squeaked, announcing my presence.

"You're home. Did they tell you? I told them not to!"

"Whoa! Wait a minute! Who? Who did you tell not to tell me what?"

"The Police. I think. Or was it the Hospital people? It doesn't matter. Your mother is dead. She was hit by some drunk while she was crossing the road."

* * * * *

I'd given him everything. And I'd paid for it.

* * * * *

"So. Are you coming?" Someone asked, bursting my daydream.

"Wha? Sorry, say again?"

"I'm having a party tonight. It'll be great! Everyone's going to be there, including a certain someone that I know you'd liked to see." Di said. Diana for long. She's my best friend, or at least, she was. Recently, we hadn't been too close, I hadn't had time.

"Sorry, I can't. Dad's still acting weird. Some days, I wish that he'd get over it, he can't grieve forever, and I can't trust him to do anything on his own these days."

"That sucks." Di said, frowning. "I hear you, though, on that last point. You know what they say, if you want something done right..."

"Or at all." I added.

Later, I found out what I'd missed out on. Not only was everyone there, but the party had (of course, it was Di in charge) been great. They'd had two kinds of punch. Alcoholic and Non-. Trust her to account for everything, they'd even managed to arrange for cigarettes for those who smoked. I don't, and neither does Di, but she's kind of weird. She tries to make everyone happy.

* * * * *

Finally, I looked down once again. There was a river below me, but that didn't really matter. At this height it might as well have been concrete. All it would do would be to move the body elsewhere.

I drew in a deep breath, and let it out. This was it. The man deserved it, the ingrate. I'd given him everything, and he had told me in so many words to just go away. To bugger off and let him live his own life, as if he actually could.

Inhaling once again, and for the last time, I took that one long, fatal step.

Strange. Now that I'd acted, I felt strangely devoid of all emotion. Is this what dying feels like? That water is getting awfully close.

* * * * *

"I'm coming!"

"Hello?" Says the man as he picks up the phone.

"Mr. Silver?"

"Yes?"

"Sarai's father, that Mr. Silver?"

"Yes. What's wrong?"

"Umm... I'll tell you later, this is news to be delivered in person."

Shortly afterwards, a policeman pulls up in his car and stops at the curb. Walking down the long driveway, he sighs, it's too beautiful a day for this. Walking past the freshly cut lawns, past the apple trees, the peach trees, the cherry trees, all blooming and adding to the beauty of the day, he still feels melancholy.

As he reaches the porch and knocks at the door, he draws a deep breath, readying himself.

"Yes? What is it?" The door opens to reveal a sad-looking, middle-aged man dressed in faded blue-jeans and a stained shirt. In one hand he holds a cup of coffee and in the other, the doorknob.

"I'm terribly sorry, sir, but I'm afraid I have bad news for you."

"What?" The man says, trying to remain calm. The officer can see, though that he's not succeeding very well, as his knuckles turn white gripping the doorknob.

"It's about your daughter, Sarai."

If the man had been tense and worried before, he was desperate now. Sensing this, the officer's discomfort increases tenfold and he rushes on quickly.

"We found her last night. In the river. And she wasn't moving."

* * * * *

Ten days later, there is a joint funeral held, and half the city is in attendance. Not everyone knew both, but all knew at least one of the two.

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