My new novel - Prologue

Quite recently I have been starting to plan and write a new novel, this is brand new territory for me so please be kind.

Have a read and see what you make of it, any feedback would be positively received.

What follows is simply the Prologue for the book:

Disclaimer: All chapters to this story are purely fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons or events is purely coincidence.

The door thundered shut behind me, the slam it makes raises the hairs on my neck.

The corridor before me is grand, the modern décor makes my skin crawl knowing how little the place matters to me.

Walking slowly along, staring at numbers, 7123, 7125, 7127, seemingly endless numbers counting up the seconds of my life, how pointless and inconsequential they are.

My feet graze across the velvet blue carpets, soft and smooth I feel a sense of caring leave me, only tears leaving my body ruin the clear blue sea of elegance.

There in front of me is a door, it reads ‘Roof Access’ in large black lettering, the door usually wouldn’t be open for regular guest, but there is nothing regular about me, or so I have been told.

I open the door, gazing back down the corridor in hope of seeing him but to no avail. Looking up at the floors, taking a guess at the number of steps before me, glancing down at my bare feet and the harsh concrete facing them.

One by one I climb, my eyes flooded with what could have been, no should have been. Defying myself and the thoughts entering my head I continue to climb slowly but surely.

I hoist my tired legs, as if they are fighting with me to stop and not carry on up the mountain of stairs, the cold floor getting more difficult as I near the top.

There in front of me again is another door, this time only with on word ‘Roof’ and a warning notice that ‘Guests are not permitted access to the roof’, maybe it was right, maybe I should have listened.

I grasp the silver handle and turn it swiftly, the door opens slowly until all I can see is the darkness and the light.

I edge out onto the roof, finding myself crowded by the bright lights of the city, no stars visible in the sky from the pollution of everyday life, what a pity.

A few steps away is the edge of the roof, I look around to see if anyone is there, again there is not. I am empty inside, the tears that fell down my face just a few moments before have now disappeared and abandoned me, just like everybody else.

My legs shake as I step up slowly, right on up to the edge of the building, no safety barrier in sight, nothing blocking my fall, nothing or no one stopping me.

Eyes once blocked by tears are now clear to the choice before me, the decision I face. So simple to end it all right now, no one would miss me, no one would be saddened, would anyone even come to my funeral.

The sounds of the traffic below overwhelm my senses, the smell of the fans from the roof, the slight dew I can feel in the air, the drops of a cold sweat coming from my brow starting to drip down my face, my face ruined by the despair I have caused.

Even though it’s mid-august the slight breeze is chilling me, perhaps I should have wrapped up more, what did it matter now though.

I close my eyes in order to clear my mind, listening to my surroundings and searching for clarity of my decision, I am at peace with myself and know the world will be better off without me. The corners of my mouth rise up with a smile without even meaning to.

‘I am doing the right thing’ I whisper to myself over and over in order to psyche myself up, preparing myself for the force it will take.

I open my eyes for the last time to take in the sights, the lush greenery in Central Park, the Empire State Building in all its bright lit glory, what better view to see just before you’re about to die.

Breathing slowly to compose myself, I look down to the ground to see what is awaiting me, starting to think how it will feel, will I regret my decision on the way down.

Shaking the thoughts out of my head I take one foot off the ledge just as I hear a voice behind me, I turn slowly to see that it’s him.