Run Away Sharon

**COCOS ISLAND, COSTA RICA**

**MARCH, 1876**

The sound of the waves crashing into the rocky shore was frightening as the Costa Rican winds in the Cocos Island blew with violent intensity and the smell of rain filled the air.

Sharon stood at the cliff's edge, facing the ocean; sad and defeated, broken and afraid, tired and submissive. She was ready to end it all, ready to let the violent waves claim her as their own and end her suffering once and for all. Her entire life had been completely ruined in the past two years and her fantastical world, her perfect life, and everything she had suffered to achieve were now being flushed down the drain as a memory about to fade away from the realm of existence.

Her eyes were profusely leaking with the tears of a woman torn apart and furious at the world. Who had she offended? What crime had she committed? What wrong had been done to make the universe punish her so? Why was she the one suffering when the real criminal; a man worse than the devil himself was out to get her?

All of these questions enveloped her mind but an answer could not be found. This was the end for her, she decided, moving even closer to the cliff's edge, trying to summon the courage to jump.

Meanwhile, Peter was returning from his fishing trip and he descended from his boat by the seashore. He stood below the cliff while he tied his boat up, and off-loaded his catch and his equipment when his eyes spotted a figure on top of the cliff. It was getting dark and the figure was too far away so he couldn't tell what it was. He dismissed his thoughts and climbed up the side of the cliff.

As he walked over to his little cottage at the end of the cliff, he saw her. Her hair flowed in the wind like a golden wave and her aura for some reason arose his senses. She wasn't looking in his direction and he walked closer before realizing what she wanted to do.

"Hi there," he spoke.

She gasped, "Don't come any closer. I'll jump, I swear I will."

"Please, don't! I just want to help you, that's all," he said cautiously, not wanting to cause her to jump.

"No one can help me now. My life is ruined. I might as well just end it now," she moved dangerously closer to the edge.

"No, please. Look, I don't know you and I don't know what you're going through but I know this; killing yourself is never the solution. No matter how hard things are and how hopeless your situation is, as long as you are breathing, there's always hope that things will get better," Peter pleaded.

"You don't know anything about my situation," She said, still not facing him.

"I may not know you but I've been in your shoes before. I know what it's like to feel like your life's no longer worth living. I've also wanted to end it all; to end my pain and suffering, but I chose not to. Do you know why? Because I realized that life is the most precious gift. It is sacred and important. Please, don't throw away yours. Let me help you," he begged.

"Why would you want to help me? You don't even know me," she truly wondered.

"I can't just walk away and let you die. Let me help you. If no one else will, I will. Please!" Peter said again.

"Just leave me to die. There's nothing left for me," she said frantically.