The Ninth Step

Singing along in her head to a song she really didn't know the name to, Ann stopped on every other step to listen to the sounds coming from downstairs. The stairs were illuminated up until the ninth step, but after this, a shadow cloaked the final five. She could see no further. The song had gone. Ann was not surprised by split between the darkness and the light, yet she was still not prepared with the choice she was forced to make. As she turned towards the bottom of the stairs, a faint sound of nonsense coming from the television could be heard. She pictured her family's faces. Faces frozen as they followed the actions of the characters they had grown to accept as a part of our home. Their emotionless faces burned her eyes as she once again turned towards the dark steps waiting, yet wanting.

Ann was odd. After talking to her, even if for a few minutes, anyone would come to that conclusion. The fact was that she really did not like other people. Ann was just the type of person who preferred to read, rather than have a conversation. In her opinion, the shit that came from peoples' mouths seemed to insult the English language. "Loner", "hermit" and "anti-social freak." Ann no longer had a name. The idea pleased her. She found no fault in the concept of being alone. The funny thing was that it was not Ann who was angered by these people. These people were angered by her very presence. In their opinions, Ann was different, she had become an oddity. An unknown creature walking amongst a running crowd, talked about less and less until she had disappeared altogether.

For years and years Ann had been making the choice to travel the line between steps 9 and 10. Today was no different, except she would be returning to normality in a few minutes. She only crossed to get her sweater. Ann planned to take a walk. She needed to escape.

Who is Ann? Many teenagers go through the same phases and always think that they are alone. Ann was a prime example. She was not the type to do drugs or cut herself. These she believed, killed the only valuable part of the body, one's brain. It was later discovered that Ann's pain was caused by her severe depression. She was never helped because , well, she did not talk about her brain. It was hers. Many of the same people who called her names claimed that she was a great person, quiet though. Ann was the only person who really knew what thoughts were raging a war inside of her.

The creature got into her head. It had come back again and she had to go somewhere. Usually she froze in place when it came, but this time was different. Ann was removed from herself. The purpose of living had left, yet again. But, then, I guess it was never really there in the first place, just the fake image of what people should strive for. Ann always wanted to live in the forest. There were no people, only other creatures. The mindless talk would be gone forever. And when it was her time, it would be natural, the way it was intended. Her remains would fertilize the soil and any trace of her would be swallowed up as well. But, she couldn't live in a forest.

Ann stopped on the side of the road. She waited until she could not hear any cars coming. With her eyes closed she took one step. One tear fell soundlessly to the pavement. Another step. Ann's stomach was heaving. A third step. her family's faces stung her through the darkness of her eyelids. Four. Five. Her heart beat rapidly. Six. Not once did she regret the seventh or the eighth, as her chances grew smaller and smaller. There were no tears as she lifted her right foot to complete her ninth step. No More Pain

The driver had no time to react as he plowed straight into, what he assumed to be, a deer that had found its way onto the highway. He continued. His car was not damaged and someone else would deal with the carcass. Poor creature he thought, but the driver was in a hurry.

Back in Ann's room, her door was left open and her light left on from her hurried retreat. The last five steps were illuminated down to the ninth step where Ann had paused for that split second, while a unnamed tune played in her head. Darkness ruled as the door slammed shut just as the car slammed into Ann, ending her song and ending the war of thoughts, which in the end killed her and splattered the only valuable part of her body across the pavement.

THE END