Peace
Early morning birds sang ghostly melodies from the empty branches. A lemony sun peered through the mist that swirled around the tops of the trees lining the path. Frost had turned the grass white. Eddie meandered along the pathway. He pulled the furry collar of his coat more tightly round his neck, shuffled through the fallen leaves with his high-heeled boots.
Bloody stupid idea to come out here in this weather. But he hadn't been able to sleep, and staring at the same four walls was driving him mad. He sighed heavily; his breath was a cloud. He pushed his cold fingers into his coat pockets and climbed the small stone steps leading to the bridge. He leaned against the arched stone wall, watching the icy water flow. Dark twisted reflections returned his gaze.
It was within the water that he first saw her. A dancing red reflection, a few feet from where he stood. He lifted his head, looked across at her. She stood like him, leaning against the wall, staring over the edge. She paid no attention to him as he looked at her.
Hers was a pale, fragile beauty. Very tall and painfully thin. She looked tired. Layered dark hair falling against her cheeks and haphazard across her forehead. She turned her head then, faced him. Cool green eyes watched him closely. No words passed between them. The wind picked up, whipping her long, blood red coat around her legs. She held out her hand to him, he took it and held the skeletal fingers tight as he moved towards her.
She was looking at him, almost studying his face. Her fingers traced where her eyes had lingered. Their touch was cold as marble. He caught has breath, then suddenly she leaned down and kissed his lips. Her mouth was cold; he shivered a little. For just a few seconds he could feel her; then she broke the kiss. There was the ghost of a smile on her lips.
Then she walked away from him in silence. He watched as she disappeared into the mist, his heart beating faster, almost wanting to run after her… Then she was gone. He fought the disappointment he felt. Leaning back against the bridge, he stared down at the water again, though he kept glancing up to see if she would return. But there was nothing to see other than the mist and the autumn leaves blowing past. He stayed there a little while longer, until he was so cold he decided to head back indoors.
Eddie slammed the door of his room, threw his coat over a chair and slumped on the bed. He picked up the remote control and flicked aimlessly through the TV channels. Then suddenly, he turned the sound up and gazed, transfixed, at the photograph on the screen. "… whose body was found this morning at around 6am by a passer-by. Police are appealing for any witnesses to contact them on this number…" Eddie dropped the remote control. He was staring into the eyes of the face on the screen - the cold green eyes of the girl on the bridge. The girl who had died three hours before he had met her…
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