Chapter 21 Tears Exist for a Reason

"Let me end it now!"

As the wind rustled around her, Alayna's decision to jump off the bridge felt like a thin sheet of paper on the edge of a deep abyss.

Tears welled up in Alayna's eyes, shimmering like precious pearls as if they appeared out of nowhere. Her heart raced against the relentless ticking of time as if every beat threatened to be her last.

Alayna was about to step into the river, to end her life.

At that moment, Dafa stood nearby, his senses heightened by a surge of adrenaline. He desperately tried to stop Alayna's deadly leap, his voice cracking and trembling with fear.

"Alayna! Please, don't jump!" his anguished cries pierced the air.

Dafa's voice was broken and trembling, reflecting his deep fear.

Dafa's hands, strong and sure, swiftly caught hold of Alayna's trembling arm, pulling her into his protective embrace. The warmth emanating from his touch sent soothing vibrations through her, reminding her of a glimmer of the hope she had thought was lost.

As she was trapped in Dafa's embrace, she felt her tears continue to flow. Her wounded heart slowly began to find a safe place there, among the throbbing heart of Dafa that felt so close.

The vibrations that flowed from within Dafa seemed to be a healing mantra that dispelled the darkness that hit her.

Locked in each other's gaze, words became obsolete, unnecessary in the face of an unspoken understanding. Their expressions conveyed emotions that words could never capture, a silent language of connection.

In that silence, Dafa finally broke down the silent wall that separated them. He said softly, "Your life is too precious to end."

The words fell slowly, reaching Alayna's wounded heart. She felt that the burden of despair she had been carrying was getting lighter. Tears flowed ceaselessly, now transformed from mere drops of sorrow into cathartic streams, releasing regret and despair.

"You have the strength to get through this, even though it may be difficult. Don't allow these emotions to control you; remember that you have the power to control them."

With that, Alayna broke down into sobs, for in Dafa's words she felt not only their comforting warmth but also the life pulsating within her.

"Cry, if you want to cry. It's okay," Dafa said.

His hand stroked Alayna's black hair gently as if touching her wounded heart with understanding. He knew that tears were Alayna's way of releasing the pressure that had accumulated for so long, and he wanted to give her the space to do so.

Alayna felt genuine support from Dafa when she expressed her feelings. All the feelings she had kept inside all this time, all the uncertainty and fear, were all expressed in her tears.

When Alayna's crying began to subside and she began to calm down, Dafa stretched his arms.

He was still next to her but gave her room to breathe and soak in the moment of calm.

Dafa and Alayna sat on the edge of the bridge, gazing at the beautiful scenery around them.

The afternoon sky was blue and bright, the warm sun shining down on them, and the cool breeze waving gently in their hair.

Under the bright sunlight, Alayna felt like she was experiencing a turning point in her life.

"Do you feel better now?" Dafa turned his head to the side, his eyes full of concern.

Alayna pursed her lips for a moment. She pondered for a moment before finally answering, "Yes, thank you, Dafa. You have made me feel that there is hope and light in the future."

Dafa smiled with relief. "That is good news," he said, "Remember, never give up, Alayna. Life is full of challenges, but every challenge also brings opportunities and valuable lessons."

Alayna nodded slowly, her eyes filled with gratitude for having Dafa as her support.

"Thank you, Dafa, for always being there for me. I don't know what would happen if you weren't there."

"I have one request," Dafa said in a steady voice, filling the air with deep tension.

Alayna turned to him with a frown. "What is that?" she muttered carefully.

"I want you to agree first," Dafa confirmed.

Alayna nodded hesitantly, "Okay, I agree. But... what is your request?"

With a deep breath, Dafa said the words that would change everything, "Don't you ever think about hurting yourself anymore."

That moment felt like a heavy stone on Alayna's chest. Those words sank deep, awakening various feelings within her. She looked into Dafa's eyes, seeing deep worry.

Tears started to fill her eyes again, but this time they weren't tears of despair, but rather tears of understanding that she had someone who cared deeply about her.

"I'm sorry I cried again. I guess, I'm a weak person, or maybe it's the effect of my pregnancy," Alayna said in a sobbing voice.

Dafa shook his head slowly. "Crying is not a sign of weakness. Tears exist for a reason. They are our body's way of releasing emotional burdens that are too heavy for us to carry alone."

Alayna nodded, feeling a little relieved by Dafa's words. She felt so grateful that she had someone ready to listen.

"However, I'm still confused, Dafa," Alayna said with a hint of confusion clear in her voice. "I don't know how to tell Lev about this pregnancy. I don't know what his reaction will be."

Dafa infused Alayna's doubts with empathy. "It's a difficult situation, Alayna, and Lev's reaction may be hard to predict. All we can do is be honest and open the door to talk. He's the father of the child, and he deserves to know."

Alayna nodded with mixed feelings. "I'm just afraid he'll be angry or unprepared."

Dafa placed his hand on Alayna's shoulder and said, "But we can't decide what will happen before we try. I know you can get through this difficult time. Like you always do."

Alayna nodded slowly. Her eyes returned to the river which was flowing fast and glistening in the sunlight. She felt a little calmer, although she never knew what challenges she would face in the future.