A fatal mistake by Rüdiger Kaufmann (mind reading books .TXT) 📕

My special thanks goes to Annika Sturm and Veronica Harmonica (bookzilla) for proofreading and editing.
Thank you very much!

Author

Rüdiger Kaufmann, father of two children, works as an administrator. In 1990, he discovered his passion for writing. Today, he writes short stories. In a genre he has not been determined.

For more information, see
www.buecherwurm1972.de

A fatal mistake

by

Rüdiger Kaufmann

Jake is standing on the edge of a cliff. He is desperate and wants to jump. Monika, a friend from school tries to stop him. Can she succeed or will fate take an unexpected turn?


A cool autumn morning at sea. Mist hovered just above the ground and in the distance one could hear the passing cars on the freeway. A dreary mood hung over the otherwise beautiful area. Right on the rocks stood a young man who was just 17 years old, with dark, blond hair and blue eyes. With tears in his eyes, he looked down at the rocks on the beach below. Suddenly a girl came up from behind and shouted his name.
"Jake, don't jump!"
Jake turned and raised his hands quickly.
"Stay right there! Do not come any closer to me."
She stopped short. Jake turned away from the girl and looked back out at the sea.
"Why do you want to jump? I don't understand you!"
"Nothing has any meaning for me anymore. Without Jill, I cannot and will not live. "
"What are you talking about? This is nonsense. Time heals all wounds. You will get over her. Eventually you'll get to know a nice girl and ... "

Jake shook his head.
"No, no! Jill was unique. There was only one like her in the entire world."
"Killing yourself won't bring Jill back. Let's go to my house and we'll talk about it in peace and quiet."
You could feel the tension in the air. Jake's voice was now very serious.
"No, I won't. I've made my decision. "
"This is sheer madness. I beg you ... no, I plead you, come with me!"
The girl had fallen to her knees and she was clutching his hands. She began to sob bitterly.
"Please don't do it ... I .... I love you!"
Jake winced inwardly. Slowly, he turned around and looked at Monica's fawn-colored eyes.
"Monica, I never knew."
"Jill was my friend. I loved her, which is why I never said anything. I didn't want to sow hatred between us. Do you know what I mean?"
Jake was silent, but then ...
"You're making me confused, but I can't forget Jill so easily."
"You won't! Jill will live on in our hearts, but if you would only give us a chance..."
Jake held his head with both hands.
"I can't go. In my head it's all ... But despite all that I have to pay ... "
Monica screamed at Jake.
"Why? What do you have to pay for?"
Jake began to weep bitterly.
"It's my fault that Jill is dead. If I hadn't been drunk driving, she would still be alive."
Monica shook her head.
"What are you talking about?"
Jake looked back out to the sea and began to talk.
"That night, after the school party, I wanted to take Jill home. I took the car keys and sat behind the wheel of my Corvette. Drunk! We were going down a big hill when it happened. I lost control of the car and crashed into a rockface. Jill was dead on the spot and I .... a few bruises. "
Jake laughed: "Just a few bruises."
His laugh was turning fast into a sob.

"It wasn't like that," Monica said, "you've twisted everything!"
"What did you say?'
Monica tried to put the story right.
"After the party, it was Jill who was drunk, not you. Then she drove the car. You tried to stop her, but you had no chance. She was driving down a country road, swerving back and forth.. Jill was going crazy. Suddenly, out of nowhere, appeared two headlights right in front of you. Jill swerved to the right and you ended up in that ditch. Jill was thrown out of the car because she was not wearing a seatbelt. You were and that's what saved your life. You tried to help Jill, but she died in your arms ... That’s the way it all happened. So it's wrong for you to blame yourself. "

Jake had turned around.
"Are you saying that just to reassure me?"
"No, it's the whole truth. If I'm lying, then let the devil take me."

Suddenly, the sky turned black as night, and the sound of thunder could be heard all around them.

Monica seemed to have convinced Jake because his face had suddenly changed. He was smiling now. Jake stretched out both arms.
"Will you help me get through everything Monica?"
"Yes, yes and yes!"
Monica ran up to Jake and fell into his arms. He pulled her close.
But the edge of the cliff where Jake and Monica were standing could no longer carry the full weight of the two. With loud cracking and crashing, it broke off.

"Aaaaaahhhhhhh!"

Monica and Jake plunged 100 meters down into the deep abyss. The fall seemed to take forever. They hit the rocks. Dead …
Monica and Jake were covered in blood, but yet lay beside each other, hand in hand on the rocks. Now they were united in the afterlife together.

For ever!

And the moral of the story:
"Say rather the truth or you end up in hell"


Imprint:

Text: Rüdiger Kaufmann
All rights reserved
Translated from German 29/08/2012

Proofreading and editing by Annika Sturm and Veronica Harmonica (bookzilla)

Have a look at the book by Annika Sturm
Link: http://www.bookrix.de/_title-de-annika-sturm-penalty

Have a look at the book by Veronica Harmonica (bookzilla)
Link: http://www.bookrix.de/_title-de-veronica-harmonica-captain-sam-and-the-goat-pirate


Free font for the cover by http://www.dafont.com


Cover design by Rüdiger Kaufmann using a photo of George Schick (http://www.morguefile.com)

Text: Rüdiger Kaufmann
Images: Cover design by Rüdiger Kaufmann using a photo of George Schick (http://www.morguefile.com)
Editing: Annika Sturm and Veronica Harmonica (bookzilla)
Publication Date: 09-06-2012

All Rights Reserved