The drop looks so inviting...

[Joanna Miller]

I walk into the astronomy tower, my mind was blank, my body numb.
I'd never felt like this before, I didn't know how to handle it.
It wasn't fair.
Nothing was fair.
How did I use to look at life and see the bright side?
There is no bright side.
My legs bump into the cold stone wall of the tower.
I feel the cold.
I'm almost relieved that I can feel something, anything at all.
I put my legs over the edge and sit there, looking down.
Why did the drop look so inviting to me right now?

[Andromeda Black]

I walked into the Astronomy tower after having some ice cream. My mind began to race with thoughts of Warren. He was such a butt. That's when I saw a girl sitting on the edge of the tower. "Don't do it." I said trying not to startle her and make her fall.

[Angela Wood]

I climb the stairs after her. "Well, Andromeda, I really don't think you should-" I stop as I see Jo sitting on the ledge. I walk over and sit down next to her. " What's wrong?"

[Joanna Miller]

I shake my head miserably, and remain silent.
I wasn't going to start crying again.
I wasn't going to cry in front of Ange.
I didn't like crying in front of people.
I wasn't going to cry.

[Angela Wood]

"Come on, fellow cat lady, you can tell me anything." I wrap an arm around her shoulders comfortingly.

[Joanna Miller]

"Not this." I whisper miserably. "I'm so ashamed Ange. Not this."

[Angela Wood]

I nod solemnly. "Okay, okay. I understand. But, please. Don't do this."

[Joanna Miller]

"I'm not going to." I sniff. "I'm afraid of heights anyway."

[Angela Wood]

I smile. "Then lets get off of this God forsaken ledge."

[Joanna Miller]

I nod mutely, clambering back into the astronomy tower and sinking against the wall.

[Angela Wood]

I climb back down and sit next to her. "You can tell me. I wnat you to know that."

[Joanna Miller]

I nod, leaning my head back against the cool stone of the tower wall.
"I'm so stupid Ange." I say softly. "So stupid."

[Angela Wood]

"We all are, Jo. We all are."

[Joanna Miller]

"Not as stupid as me." I say, drawing my knees up to my chest and hugging them. "I was going to give in. I was going to let him win."

[Angela Wood]

"Who?"

[Joanna Miller]

"My stupid asshole of a brother. This is what he wants!" I yell as if he could here me. "This is what he always wanted! Stupid bloody asshole!" I roar the last three words at the sky as if he could hear me wherever he was now.

[Angela Wood]

"Then defy him." I reach over and turn her face towards me. "You're strong enough."

[Joanna Miller]

"No, I'm not." I say quietly. "I never have been, never will be. He'll win eventually and he knows it and there's nothing I can do. It's just a question of when."

[Angela Wood]

"You're stronger than you give yourself credit for." I look up as a tear streaks down my face. "I was here before. I just thought that....maybe, maybe it would be best. It's not, I'll tell you that much. It's not for the best. You can't just give up like that."

[Joanna Miller]

"But, I want to." I cry. "I want to give up. I can't do it anymore. It's too hard."

[Angela Wood]

I lean over and wrap my arms around her. "That may be true but that's no reason to give up."

[Joanna Miller]

"It is." I say, burying my head in her shoulder. "Ange, there's no point. Not when I'm like this. I can't concentrate on anything, I was apalling at quidditch practice today. I let every single goal in. I can't do anything right at the moment. All I can do is be miserable and there's no point even pretending not to be anymore."

[Angela Wood]

I think for a moment, remembering. "You'll pull througha nd things will be all right. As for quidditch practice, we all are allowd an off day. But don't do it again or I'll be forced to beat you with my club." I joke.

[Joanna Miller]

I snort.

[Angela Wood]

I sigh and look off into the dark. "You remember that time, in 2nd year? The one where you beat up Peter? Before you and I were friends?"

[Joanna Miller]

"How could I forget?"

[Angela Wood]

I laugh. "You broke his nose as I turned the corner. I still remember hearing it crack. But I saw, well, to be honest, I saw a vulgar person. But I was amused. I saw strength. I still see it."

[Joanna Miller]

"No, you saw violence. You saw a violent angry person. That's all. Violent angry people are primarily weak, who give in to their emotions and snap, therefore doing something like breaking small rat-faced little boys' noses."

[Angela Wood]

I shake my head. "No. I saw something besides the violence. I saw strength inside of you."

[Joanna Miller]

"Well it's gone." I say quietly. "It's all used up coping with my parents dying, and now there's none left to cope with this. My brother, my own brother..." I shake my head miserably, hugging my knees tighter.