BETRAYAL ON THE EDGE

You couldn’t tell Kim that she had become a completely different person on this day.

My name is Cheyenne Brown, and I saw my best friend change.

The blood in her brain stirred a pot of revenge, and it became her lover. Her soul danced with the devil on her wedding day; she just found out that her fiancé of three years had betrayed her.

She looked over at me.

I was on the phone with her fiancé, Jacob, and we were arguing. “You bring this thing to Kim on her wedding day,” I exclaimed.

Just twenty minutes earlier, a woman of Haitian descent approached her, visibly distressed and cradling her belly. With a trembling voice, she shared that Jacob was the father, revealing the emotional weight of her situation.

Kim was embarrassed, and her reputation for advocating love, family, and loyalty was well known; she felt the sting of betrayal deeply, having been a wife even before she became his.

“Where is he?” she asked, lighting a cigarette as I covered the speaker of my phone.

“Mark says they are at the Cooper River Bridge.”

“Cooper River Bridge for what?” Kim asked angrily. She lifted her foot and put the cigarette out with her stiletto heel.

“He says, Jacob is at the bridge trying to kill himself,” I replied. “You should go talk to him.”

“Talk to him for—” Kim hesitated, a shadow flickering across her face. In that instant, something wicked glimmered in her eyes. Her Cheeto-puffed cheeks seemed to sag, and the area around her eyes darkened, as if the very light was retreating from her presence. She had an epiphany.

She mentioned nothing to me.

Kim gazed at her surroundings: the church was packed inside with about two hundred people, and everyone was waiting for the wedding to begin.

The fire in her eyes burned bright like a classified B blaze, fueled by the anguish of her shattered heart. Each tear she shed acted as gasoline, igniting a fierce intensity that no one could overlook. She kicked off her shiny silver heels, seized the bottom of her white wedding dress, and walked over to the white limousine she had arrived in. I followed behind her, remaining silent. Kim marched as if she were Sophia from the movie ‘The Color Purple.’

When she reached the automobile, the chauffeur was bobbing his head to some hip-hop music.

Kim knocked at the window, but he kept bouncing. So, she yanked the door open, leaving the chauffeur looking dumbfounded. “I have been trying to be polite with you,” Kim roared. “Move out of the driver seat!”

The chauffeur looked confused.

“Ma’am?” the chauffeur stammered.

“You heard me right,” she said, grinning. She gave him an evil stare, and it pierced his soul.

“You know what, lady,” he said, while getting out of the limousine. “Have it.” He said, while walking over to the church, and Kim could see some of her wedding party coming out. Her eyes widened, and her smile dropped.

“Kim, girl, have you lost your mind?”

“No, I am fine,” Kim said in a collected tone.

“So, why are we in this limousine?”

“You were on the phone with Mark,” Kim inquired.

“Okay and—,” I said, still confused.

“And they are at the Cooper River Bridge.”

“Yes, Kim, why are you so worried?” I gulped.

“Girl, I don’t want him to kill himself,” Kim sang, tilting her head with a teasing smirk that sent a chill down my spine. A bead of sweat trickled down my forehead as realization hit me—she was done playing around. I could sense she had something mischievous planned, and I had to put a stop to it before it spiraled out of control. We had grown together, practically glued together since childhood, and I couldn’t let her risk everything we had.

Glancing at the clock, I noted the time—12:25 PM. I could feel the weight of the situation pressing down on me as I readied myself to step in and help.

“So, what now?” I asked, but she didn’t respond to me.

Kim got in the limousine, I got in along with her, and we began our route.

She accelerated like a wild force, leaving everything behind. I glanced at her, and in that moment, I realized she was no longer herself.

Whatever it is, I will not let her bear this alone, I thought to myself.

I truly held on to hope.

The ride to the bridge took us thirty minutes, and it was a long ride.

**

We were a few minutes away, and as we drew closer, she became anxious. The A/C was blowing cool, but could Kim feel it?

Oh no, my dear was numb.

I took a glance at her; she had hurt in her eyes.

Perhaps she wants to prevent him from harming himself, but something feels off.

Finally, an urge came over me to break the silence. “Are you okay, girl?” She took a moment to respond, and I gave her that time.

She nodded and said, “I am good.”

There was something diabolical about the way she said it. Whatever this was, it made my heart flutter. I could smell the rotten, evil thing.

As we approached the bridge, I could see Jacob standing on the edge, with Mark behind him, talking to him. I looked over at her, and the expression on her face changed. We suddenly came to a stop, and she hopped out of the car so quickly and took off running. That girl had the speed of a cheetah. As she ran over to Jacob, I saw a dark figure clinging to her shadow. Yes, I could see it as clear as day, holding on to her shadow and caressing it. Chills crawled over my body. I knew it was time to act, so I quickly got out of the car. Kim, plus revenge, plus Jacob, plus guilt, equals evil. I ran behind her, but I was too late. “Kim, no!” I screamed.

They were both gone, and love had been lost. I lost my best friend... mentally. Pain can alter the mind.

Kim pushed Jacob off the edge.

Shakira was born and raised in a small town called Georgetown, on the coast of South Carolina. She now resides in Andrews, South Carolina, with her husband and two children. Her passion for writing novels, songs, and poetry started as a child. Shakira’s life experiences allowed her to fall in love with her passion so deeply that she now attends Full Sail University to perfect it. Her goal is to help shape the minds and hearts of the world. Follow her on Instagram: kingdomwriter9