1 Last Dance

On a cold misty evening, Peter Jian blew warm air into his cupped hands as he walked closer to the edge. He kneeled, looking down the steep cliff, to find nothing, but a sea of shadows looking back. Peter pulled out his phone and using his feet, stepped out of his shoes. He arranged them neatly on the ground.

'If I don't die, my phone will help the police track me.' Peter thought to himself as he trotted inch by inch closer to the end of the cliff.

Just a week ago, he had been accepted into a top college with full tuition including board and accommodations. For all his life, Peter rigorously studied for better grades even if it was for a single point because at a very young age, Peter understood that only way to reach the top of society was to be born rich or become rich and to reach the top, many people are willing to sacrifice friends and family to do so.

Since Peter was not born rich, he had to become rich. By neglecting his social life and all forms of entertainment, he achieved what most people think of as a distant dream, becoming the class valedictorian. With his grades nearing perfection, he dreamed of becoming the richest man in the world.

The day before graduation, Peter was invited to a graduation party with the rest of his classmates. Normally he wouldn't attend such events as it was a waste of valuable time and effort, but he was pressured into going by his classmates of whom he didn't know any to any significant degree.

Entering the party, Peter got exactly what he expected, an ocean of people dancing under flashing lights and ear-shattering music. After greeting the teachers, he decided to leave to wake up early for graduation the day after.

A pale hand gently pulled on the corner of his shirt. Peter turned around and saw Aina Stiller's blue eyes which sparkled like fireworks. She was wearing a pure white dress down to her knees with flowery designs layered on it.

"W.. Will you care to dance with me?" She blushed and faced down trying to hide her crimson cheeks, but under the bright lights, Peter could see everything.

"Only if you're willing to teach me." He extended his right hand to hold her left and held his left hand slowly onto her back as if she were a glass doll.

Peter slowly grasped how to slow dance while the other students watched him with envious eyes. Rony Timmins grinned as he watched from the back; he whispered "I'll be number one."

When the song changed, Peter's gut gave him a bad feeling. Aina tugged at the end of his shirt and raised her head up to his ear. Feeling her lips almost touch his ear, she whispered "Follow me."

She placed her hand in his, and as she adjusted to hold on better, he could feel the softness of her hands. His heart was beating as fast as a machine gun as he chased after her back and into a classroom.

It was at that moment when he saw an evil smile on her face. She pushed Peter to the ground, and she dashed away, screaming "HELP, PETER TRIED TO R*PE ME!" When she came back with a group of students, only Peter knew her tears were fake.

The other students mobbed on Peter until Aina pretended to protect him, so they proceeded to verbally insult him. Peter knew no one in the entire crowd.

"Scum, get a life. You're lucky Aina is protecting you."

"I can't believe we have a rapist in our school."

"Piece of sh*t!"

Even though the trial ultimately proved him to be innocent due to lack of evidence, colleges revoked his acceptance, and he was no longer welcomed at his high school graduation due to a large number of students claiming that they would feel uncomfortable with him there.

Even his family started to doubt him behind his back, gossiping and giving him weird looks. This continued until his Aunts told him to leave home without even giving him time to grab his stuff.

Near the end of the cliff, Peter peered up at the stars now blanketing the endless darkness. 'Is fate playing a joke on me? Is this it?' Peter wondered before facing his head forward again.

"If I am still alive after three steps, I'll go home, and everything will be fine." Peter closed his eyes and took a step. His heart started to beat faster, and his hand was now shaking.

He took another step. "I'll go to college, I'll find a girlfriend, I'll make money, and I'll get married. Sweat crawled down Peter's face as he quickly wiped it away.

He took another step. Peter froze as his body began to lean off the cliff. He tried to turn around, but it was too late. He saw the edge of the cliff grow farther and farther away until he couldn't see it anymore.

"I'm sorry"

…

"Hey! Get up! You can't be sleeping here!"

Peter opened his eyes slowly to the face of an obese man in front of him. The man's stomach was bare of clothes and hair just like his head, and his arms were reaching towards Peter.

"STOP! I'M NOT GAY! BACK OFF" Peter pushed his body backward with his hands as quickly as he could, but soon found himself up against a wall. His eyes were pleading for help.

"SHUT UP! YOU'RE IN A CEMETERY! Just get out before I show you what gay is." The obese man glared at Peter one last time before turning around and walking away.

"Thank god." Peter breathed a sigh of relief before standing up with his arms stretched to the sky. As he looked around he saw nothing by tombstones as far as his eyes can see. He turned around and looked at the tombstone he was leaning on.

The tombstone was just a plain stone with an arched top, but it glowed slightly so that Peter could read what was written on it. The name inscribed in the stone was Emily Greenrose, and underneath the name was a description of her life: "Emily Greenrose, proud mother of five children, died by dusting"

'How do you die from dusting? Did she try to clean herself?' Peter chuckled quietly to himself before strolling towards the large rustic gate. 'I should go home.' Peter stopped when he said the word home. 'Will they let me back in?'

Peter slowly eased himself onto the ground, and with his head tucked in his knees, tears poured out of his eyes as he thought about memories of home. He screamed at the top of his lungs until his voice felt rasp.

Then Peter heard a crunch of leaf behind him, then another, and as it got louder and more frequent; his body froze, his heart pumped blood faster, and his back was drenched in sweat. What came to his mind immediately as the noise stopped right behind him were two questions.

'Who is behind me? and Why was there a half-naked man in a cemetery?'