I watch in silent horror as you seem to fly in slow motion over the edge, into the pit. You scream once, and only once, before you are gone, vanished into the dark shadows. I can’t handle what is happening and mercifully black out.

            When I come to, it’s all over. The police have come and gone. There’s nothing they could do. Someone tells me your scream attracted the teachers, who arrived just in time to see you disappear. I bury my head in my hands when your mother comes in the hospital, sobbing with grief. I can’t look at her knowing I killed her son. Hours later, I am released. I find myself here, where it all happened, staring up at the luminous bell.

            I reach out and grab the rope, surprised by my sudden courage. I slowly inch myself towards the edge until I am at last dangling from the rope. I begin my descent.

            I climb downwards for about ten minutes before something catches my eye. Letters, carved into the wall. I squint at them, trying to make sense of them. As I look closer, I can make out one of the names and I gasp. It is your name. Slowly, the other names come into focus. I recognize them as others who have fallen victim to the pit. My confusion mounts. Who has done this? It must be something magical, for even as I watch another name is being carved under yours. I choke back a scream as I realize whose name it is.

            It is mine.

            I look up just in time to see the last strands of the frayed rope separate.