A new romance may not always turn out as expected.

  

                 End Of The Line

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John looked gloomily over the parapet. It was early and what little light there was did not quite penetrate the depth of the ravine. Far below he could just make out the river, and its rocky banks. It had come to this – he was going to jump, and all because of a woman!

      He had met Sally a year earlier while on a walking holiday in the Lake District. They were both members of the Youth Hostel Association, though, in their twenties, neither of them were youths any more. But they were both avid walkers, with a particular fondness for the Cumbrian hills. 
      The weather had stayed fine so it had been a happy time for the twenty odd young people sharing the holiday, as brilliant walks by day were followed by a wonderful camaraderie in the evenings. Everybody enjoyed the magic of the scenery, the companionship, and, paradoxically, the quiet solitude. 
      None more than John and Sally, who felt at home on the high passes, and at peace on the peaks. They were of course very fit; were interested in most sports, and were active, indeed accomplished, in many. He had a love of football and his solid, but athletic build, made him an ideal midfield player. Racquet sports came easily to him, as did cricket. She was as adept on the net-ball court as she was on the hockey field, and was more than useful at tennis. They shared (they were to discover) a love for the noble game of bowls, where the physical gave best to the tactical.
      Add to this the fact that they were both blessed with glorious good looks. She had the classic fair skin and hair in the Aryan mould, while his black hair and darker skin hinted at a touch of Italian blood in his ancestry. 
      With all these things going for them it was inevitable that they would notice each other; and notice each other they did. But for some reason they both seemed to be a little shy of making a move, even though they had joined in all the communal activities and games, finding themselves in each others ‘space’ from time to time.
      On the fourth night, after all the clearing up had been done following the evening meal, he spotted her sitting alone. She was inevitably a popular girl, and John knew that there would not be many opportunities, so he was determined not to miss a chance like this.
      “Can I get you a coffee or a tea?” John asked.
      His heart leapt when she gave him a lovely smile. “Thank you,” she answered, “coffee please.” 
She had a nice voice, easy to listen to, smooth and well modulated, but without a trace of edge.
      He hurried off as quick as he could, hoping upon hope that she would still be on her own when he returned with the coffee, and was glad therefore to find that his briskly muttered prayer had been answered.
      “May I sit here for a while?” he asked, indicating a little stool at her side.
      “That would be nice,” still smiling, such a smile that it lit up the room, “we haven’t had chance to say ‘hello’ yet.”
      John moved the stool so that he could face her, but not quite directly; just enough space so that she would not feel crowded, but he knew he would have to be bold.
      “No one has introduced us, so I guess I will have to it myself; I’m John.”
      “And I am Sally.” she answered, taking the hand he had offered, and not seeming to mind too much, that he kept hold of it a little longer than perhaps he should.
      From that moment on their fate was sealed, and their destiny. An evening walk gave them the chance to touch and to hold, and to kiss. Before the holiday was over they were in love. He simply adored her, and she him.

      It was not first love for either of them, but something more than either of them had ever known. Every sense was heightened, touch and smell, almost everything looked brighter, and even the wind was like music. It was as though their meeting had been pre-ordained; that some other force was guiding them, and it mattered not that their homes were hundred miles apart. The relationship and their love grew, and in spite of the difficulties, they met every week. They were extremely happy, but never-the-less, the time came when John decided that it was right to remove the one and only obstacle to complete their happiness. Those two hundred miles!. 
      He asked Sally to marry him.

It was lighter now; enough for John to see the river far below; the rocky banks and the steep cliffs at either side. Now he could see it more clearly it was even more foreboding. Standing now on the narrow ledge of the bridge, he looked down. Feeling unsteady, never at ease with heights unless he could feel the solid ground beneath him. 
      He gritted his teeth, knowing what he had to do. There was no other way, and what did it matter anyway if he fell?
      Why hadn’t she just say no when he had proposed?.. Why didn’t she just walk away?
      Why?
      He took a look behind him before he jumped, perhaps hoping for some cowardly reason to change his mind, but it was too late for that now.
      “This is it then,” he said to himself, “no point putting it off.” 
      One last look before he closed his eyes and then, almost calmly, he stepped over the edge. In his almost hypnotic state he imagined he saw her smiling face as he disappeared from view?
      So what! There could be no going back now.
      “Why did she have to push me this far?” 
      His mind was racing as he fell, falling falling, gaining speed.“Why did she bring me to this?” Falling falling, faster faster.
      “She knows that will be the death of me.” Falling spinning, round and round.
      “No matter,” his final thought as he saw the raging river coming up at him at alarming speed. “any moment know, and it will all be over.”
      It felt like being hit by a train and all the wind seemed to have been knocked out of him.
      “And just to prove I love her I’ve got to do this bloody bungee jump.”