By the Shining Big-Sea-Water

The Darkness Ahead Is Not What You Imagine

by William Burnett

With no friends, a new school that was threatening, and a home that was empty from morning till night, Fraser saw the nearby forests and dramatic cliffs as his escape. They were beautiful and had a hypnotic pull. As he walked, he thought he heard a sound behind him, but it was drowned out by voices in his head. On reaching a bluff, high above the lake, he stared blankly out over the stunning, shimmering vista far below. He took a deep breath and started walking slowly towards the edge. He was just about to step off into oblivion when, suddenly, he felt a massive push on his back.