The Final Leap

High above the city streets, a towering edifice stands tall
In its embrace, stories upon stories, concrete and glass entwined
Above the hustle and bustle, it’s as if time here is stalled
And yet, there’s an eerie silence that whispers of the impending fall.

The moment weighing heavy on heart and mind alike; a decision made
Is it escape from life’s clutches or simply giving up this grueling fight?
For every struggle endured, each dream shattered, the pain engraved
In the lines of their face, as they stand at that precipitous height.

Anger and frustration, regret and sadness – a bitter cocktail brews within
An overwhelming sense of hopelessness, like an unbearable weight upon their chin
A life filled with promises broken, dreams faded, and hearts hardened by sin
Now, the allure of the end becomes too great to resist or contain.

As they inhale deeply one last time, a calmness washes over their soul
A silent acceptance, an understanding that this will be their final goal
They’ve made peace with the world, knowing that it’s too late to atone or console
And now, the city below seems so far away, like a dream not meant to unfold.

With a heart heavy and eyes filled with tears, they take the final leap of faith
A single moment suspended in time; as if the entire world is holding its breath
The rush of wind envelops their body, numbing pain, fear, and dismay
For a fleeting instant, it’s almost liberating – free from earthly constraints.

As they fall, the world turns to blurred lines; buildings merge into one another
An overwhelming sense of weightlessness consumes them, like a feather in the sky
While their mind races, replaying memories – lost loves and cherished moments together
There’s an undeniable fear mixed with an acceptance that this is how it must be.

Falling faster now, the wind whips around them; cold yet comforting in its embrace
The city below grows larger by the second, as if it yearns to swallow them whole
And in those final moments, their thoughts turn to those they leave behind
Wondering how this choice will resonate through time, like echoes off a canyon wall.

With a mix of love and sorrow, regrets and hopes – one question lingers: “Why?”
A single tear escapes down their cheek, glinting in the sun’s final rays
In that instant, they realize the complexity of life; its sorrows and joys entwined
And as they hurtle towards the ground, the world below becomes an embrace – both fierce and kind.

For those left behind, a moment of silence falls like a veil over their hearts
Their minds filled with questions they’ll never have answers for; emotions swirl and fester
But even in their confusion, they understand the depths of despair that led to this act
And while they grieve, they hold onto memories, trying to make sense of what they lack.

The city below, now witness to a tragedy, goes about its daily routine
Life continues on – relentless and unforgiving; hearts broken, dreams shattered anew
As the echoes of their final leap reverberate through the concrete jungle
The memory of their passing remains etched in the skyline’s very soul.

In the aftermath, the world is left to piece together shattered lives and broken dreams
An outpouring of grief and confusion as questions are asked but never quite answered
A desperate search for understanding in a world that so often defies logic or reason
The city carries on, scars etched into its facade, a silent testament to their absence.

For those who remain, the memory of this tragic act becomes an ever-present weight
A reminder that life is fragile; at times unbearable, yet filled with an undeniable beauty
In the shadows of the high-rise, where their final moments were played out
The city carries on – a living testament to the complexity and tragedy of the human condition.

As time passes, the questions persist; echoing through the streets, carried by the wind
“Why did they do it?” “Could we have helped them?” “What could I have done differently?”
In their loss, others are forced to confront their own fears and vulnerabilities
Realizing that sometimes life’s burdens become too much for even the strongest to bear.

While the city mourns its lost soul, life continues – a perpetual cycle of birth and death
The world spins on, oblivious to the pain and suffering etched into every heartbeat
But even in darkness, there are flickers of light; hope lingers in the shadows
And as the city rebuilds and heals, so too do those left behind – finding solace in the living.

Though their life may have ended that day, their presence remains etched into memory
Their story becomes a part of the collective consciousness, woven seamlessly into the city’s fabric
A reminder to cherish every moment, to hold tightly to those we love, and never give up on hope
For in their passing, they teach us that life is fragile, and we must treasure it while it lasts.

And as the sun sets over the city, casting its golden light upon the streets below
The memory of the one who fell lingers like a whisper on the wind – a haunting refrain
In their passing, they leave behind not just sorrow but an unwavering lesson to carry on
For even in darkness, there’s a glimmer of hope – a beacon that will guide us through the night.

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Dear Mike Ettinger,

Thank you for sending your work to POETRY magazine—and thank you, too, for your patience as you waited for our response.

We won’t be publishing anything from your submission, but we wish you the best of luck in publishing it elsewhere and appreciate you sending it our way.

Thanks so much for your support of the magazine. We hope you are as safe and well as can be.

Gratefully,

The Editors