ON THE EDGE

She was always afraid of heights
And usually chose a safer route
But now she stood on the steepest ledge
Pressing her face to the sharp rocks
Not daring to look down.
She found herself there
Alone.
He had forced her to this edge as
Others strolled by on the wider path
As if it were not scary.
Tossing useless sayings
And empty advice
That yielded no cushion
Or helped with the parachute
She had salvaged.
Some had clung here before
With their own sets of tools
And provisions
Looking for a safe way down.
She couldn’t jump
She didn’t have her gliding gear
She would plummet with no brakes
Or hit the jutting rocks
Gashing her tender skin.
She could only rely on herself and hope
She might find a crevice
To pull herself up
Or edge her heart to safety.