Under the Bridge

By Tee Smith

There would be no time for crying, no more tiptoeing around. 

She closed her eyes, sucking in one last deep breath. She knew it would be over in a few short seconds. Planting her hands firmly on the rail she pushed off.

Life hadn't turned out the way Kiera had planned. Neither had her death. 

She never imagined she might get a second chance. Falling in love with Karl had been one of her greatest mistakes.

Ending it all, was just the beginning.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tee Smith
• Release date: Sep 1, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201420864

Book preview

Part I

Chapter One

Kiera

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Hot, salty tears rolled down her cheeks as she peered over the railing. A truck rumbled overhead, causing the vibration of the massive concrete structure to rattle through her bones. A slight breeze tickled her skin, and her dress clung to her thighs, threatening to ride up and expose her to the elements.

Allowing herself to lean over the railing for the first time, she watched as the current carried flotsam downstream. Her tiny frame weighing in around fifty-five kilos was heavier than the sticks and bric-a-brac tossed away, but she couldn’t help wondering if the water would carry her away too. Where would they find her? Who would find her? She hoped it wouldn’t be a child. No, probably a dog-walker, or a jogger. They were always the ones to find bodies.

It seemed fitting somehow to be found by a stranger. Karl would make it all about him. It was always about him in life, death would be no different. He would relish in the sympathy. If her story made the six o’clock news, that would be an even bigger win for his already over-inflated ego. She just couldn’t stand it any longer.

It hadn’t always been that way, or perhaps it had, and she just hadn’t noticed, but as the years wore on, he became little more than a tyrant and she a prisoner in her own home. He would be furious when he woke to find she had taken his car. But, of course, that would all change once they discovered her lifeless body. Then his fury would turn to something else … or would it? He might still be angry at her for finally leaving him. There was no way he would take any responsibility. No, that would rest on her.

She swiped the tears from her cheek with the back of her hand. There would be no more time for crying. She had come to end all that. There would be no more tip-toeing around, careful not to wake him. No more rushing to prepare his favourite meal, only to be told it was too hot, too cold, or that he no longer ate the same brand of cheese she had always served him. If only she paid more attention, she would know how to make him happy.

Seventeen years! How could she have wasted so much time on him? At thirty-two, it was more than half her lifetime. Gone. Wasted on Karl.

The hum of the cars ebbed and waned over the bridge above. It was oddly calming. Kiera closed her eyes and listened to the rubber on the asphalt. A clicking noise called out as each tyre hit a certain point above her. She knew it must be something along the road, a metal join, or perhaps one of those vehicle counters, she couldn’t be sure. Whatever it was created a rhythmic motion, and she swayed gently back and forth.

She needed to calm her mind and prepare for the plunge. Fear would stop her from doing what she knew she must. It was the easiest way. She would have preferred to take a handful of pills and go to sleep; she had tried that once and failed. From then, Karl kept all the medications under lock and key. Just as he did with her.

Opening her eyes once more, she focused on the feel of the heavy rail under her fingertips. It was higher than her hip; she guessed they didn’t want anyone to fall. The walkway was barely used these days. Not since they had built the new bridge further up the river. That one was frequented by families and people would ride their bicycles along the purpose build path. This one was narrow. Built all those years ago for bridge maintenance, she assumed. Making it the perfect place to fall.

Steadying her breath, she looked over the edge once more. She didn’t like heights. Mostly because she had always been afraid of death. Somehow, death didn’t seem so scary anymore, not when the alternative was living. Living with Karl at that.

Leaving him was not an option. He had made that perfectly clear. Not that she had anywhere to go. No friends, no family. They had all turned their backs on her years ago. Some had tried to get her to see him for who and what he really was, but she thought she knew better. Thought she loved him. That he loved her. Karl loved no one but Karl.

The vertical posts made the fence difficult to climb. Kiera laughed to herself at the irony she might fall, as she pushed her foot against the post to hoist herself up. She had been strong once, enjoyed dancing. Karl had vetoed that. I don’t want other men looking at you, he had said. At the time, she had felt honoured, special even. He had wanted her all to himself.

Swinging her right leg over the rail, her shoe flung from her foot, spinning through the air. As if in slow motion, she watched as the footwear tumbled smoothly down to the water. What would it feel like to fall through the air like that? Would it hurt when she hit the water? Would she feel the cold? She shuddered slightly at the thought. She didn’t want it to hurt. What if she didn’t actually die? She remembered reading once about a man who had tried to shoot himself. He had placed the gun in his mouth and pulled the trigger. The bullet had taken the roof of his mouth, his nose, and one eye. But he had lived.

A waterbird called from below, like a mermaid calling to its prey. Year after year, birds would fly around the bridge, always returning to their home. If they could fly, why did they always return? Why didn’t they fly somewhere else? Somewhere better? If she had wings, she would fly away. If only.

Casting her gaze upward one last time, she took in the blue of the sky. It was the same colour as her dress. She had chosen this dress to die in. It was her favourite. Karl had allowed her to buy it during one of his softer moments; he did have them, occasionally.

Closing her eyes tightly, she sucked in one last deep breath. It would be over in a few short seconds. Perhaps she could hold her breath for the entire time. She focused again on the click, click, click of the tyres, as the world above went about its day. She inched closer to the edge. Steeling herself, she planted her hands firmly on the rail and pushed off.

She felt her body leave the rail before she heard the voice. No! Don’t!

Her eyes flew open, but it was too late.

Chapter Two

Fear coursed through her veins as she saw the water below loom towards her, then out of nowhere, she stopped falling. Strong arms wrapped around her. One firmly grasping her left hip and the other her right thigh. Thick fingers dug into her skin as her body was thrust back against the metal fencing then hoisted over the rail.

What are you doing? a man’s voice boomed in her ear as she felt her feet hit the concrete below with a thud.

What are you doing? she retorted, unsure if she was grateful for being saved, angry that her attempt to fall from the bridge had failed, or frightened at being handled by this random stranger. Let me go, she screamed as his arms wrapped tightly around her middle.

I don’t know if that’s safe.

Let me go! Kicking back, her heels found purchase against a trousered leg, but her captor held firm.

Hot, heaving breaths fell on her ear. Only if you promise not to try to jump again.

Let me go, she repeated.

Promise!

Okay. I promise, Kiera relented, not sure why this random stranger might care if she jumped. She just needed to be free from his grip so she could run.

Slowly, the arms that had pulled her back from the edge of death released her, and instead of running, her legs buckled beneath her. Like a lump of jelly falling from a spoon, she slid to the ground below, unable to sustain her own weight.

Are you okay? The voice came softer now, with less force.

Was she okay? She shook her head from side to side. You just stopped me from throwing myself off a bridge. Does that seem okay to you?

Want to talk about it?

Kiera scoffed. As if talking would fix anything.

When she felt the man’s body come to rest beside her, she looked up and shielded her eyes to take in her rescuer, if that’s what she could call him. He was big. His shoulders broad; no wonder he’d had no trouble stopping her from falling. His dark hair framed a strong, masculine-looking face, with a square-set, clean-shaven jaw. There was something soft in his blue eyes, though, like he could see her and feel her pain.

By contrast, Karl always wore a beard. His eyes were dark, and when he was angry, they grew almost black. She sometimes thought she could see the devil in his eyes. There was no softness, just scheming, no