Excerpt
“A game?,” she said in a taunting, almost longing tone. “Does this look like a game to you?” She stepped closer to the edge of the ravine.

“Jesus, Danae,” Eric said, suddenly afraid but trying to stay calm. “Stop a second and think about what you’re doing.”

“I am thinking, Eric. I’m thinking about how far you have to push sometimes to get something worthwhile – how hard you have to try to get there. The things you have to get past and overcome and fight your way through. And I’m wondering if you think I’m worth it.”

“This is nuts!,” Eric exclaimed, his composure now gone. He put his hands on his hips and stared at her angrily. She answered by taking another step back toward the edge. “Jesus, Danae, for God’s sake, stop.” His words were tense, but the anger was suddenly replaced by fear.

“I’m going to do this, Eric, and if you want me, you’re going to do it, too.” There was suddenly a silence in the wilderness, as if the frogs and the crickets suddenly rested all at once. Danae’s voice was soft and low.

“Sometimes you have to go to the end to get to the beginning.”

In a blur she turned and bolted two more steps, her warm, limber legs launching her off a large flat rock that was elevated about a foot or so from the rest of the trail. Her naked body jackknifed into the air, moonlight washing for a split second across her back and buttocks, and she evaporated into the darkness.

Eric felt a plunging feeling inside him when he realized she was committed to the jump. “Omigod-omigod-omigod!,” his voice was high and tense and breaking as he sped forward toward the edge of the ravine. His mind raced through a memory of her jump from the dorm rooftop, the terrible consequences her suicide attempt had had on her and her family and friends. He imagined for a split second that somehow, something he’d said or done had sent her over. This time she’d be dead, and he’d be responsible.