Death #50:
Falling for You
By Karin
Nick stood nervously, looking over the scenic spot. Niagara Falls.
Lauren had said she’d always wanted to go there, so he had planned a surprise
visit for them. Just the two of them, mind you, as a quick get away.
However, this wasn’t just a retreat, this was THE day.
Nick felt around in his pocket to make sure it was still there.
Sure enough, he felt the object in his pants and breathed a sigh of relief.
When Lauren came out of the restroom, he smiled and knelt on the ground,
pulling the ring out of his pocket. “Lauren, I love you with all my heart, and
I want to spend the rest of my life with you…” He reached for her hand, holding
the ring for her to see, waiting for her to say yes.
Lauren jumped and started waving her hands before sitting on
Nick’s lap, covering his face with kisses. When Lauren jumped, however, Nick
dropped the ring. When she was sitting on his knee, he tried to slip it on her
finger and noticed it was gone. He looked around frantically, trying to find
it. Yes, it was insured, but he didn’t want to have to deal with the paperwork
and filing the claim.
“Baby, just a minute…” he helped her stand up and stood up himself,
looking for the ring. Finally, a little spec caught his eye and he walked over
to edge of the observatory. He knelt down and tried to reach it through the
railing, but his arm wasn’t long enough. Without pausing to think, he climbed
over the railing, balancing precariously on the slick stones. He knelt down to
retrieve Lauren’s engagement ring, and was startled by a voice behind him.
“SIR! Don’t do it!!! You have so much to live for!!!” a security
guard was inching his way towards Nick. “Think of all the good memories you
have, whatever is making you feel like there’s nothing left is only temporary!”
Nick looked around him, trying to figure out where the jumper was
before realizing the security guard was talking to HIM.
He turned quickly and held both his hands up to the security
guard, “Oh, no, it’s cool, dude. I was just getting this ring!” he explained.
Nick reached for the railing to start to climb over when his foot slipped on
the wet rock. The railing was covered in water as well, so there was no holding
on to save his life.
Luckily, Nick drowned in the river before
falling over the edge of the famous falls.
***