text: Before the story starts, I just wanted to say that this is my first attempt at writing something and I'm not too sure what to tag this as but I think this is the best tag. I guess I should also say that the tone in this bit of writing is dark throughout the story. Any feedback would be well appreciated as I am just starting out. The Ridge As he stood there on the ridge of the mountain, he looked out on the world beneath him. In the far-off distance, he could see people getting on with there day, but from up here they were just specs that looked like everything else. The place that he was staying, he couldn’t remember the name of it, he just knew that it was the place that would help him decide. As he stood up there on the ridge, he looked out and he could see everything. He saw the beauty that was the natural landscape, not man-made massive skyscrapers, it was the beautiful mountain ridges and trails. The long forests that anyone could get lost in, the inland loch with the sun shimmering off its surface and creating the perfect reflection. He breathed out and decided that he had had enough. He sat down in quiet contemplation and thought about his decision. He knew it was the right one but he couldn’t not think about what he’d leave behind. He’d leave behind his loving wife, his family, his friends. People that had got him through hell and back before, but this time he had to do this on his own. He thought about the other things he’d miss, the small things. Such as the wisdom he could learn from reading books from the present and the ancient past, music that influenced him all through his life and helped him in his worst moments and finally, but the weirdest one he thought, he’d miss just getting to laze about doing nothing, knowing he could and probably should be doing something. He decided that tomorrow was the day, the day he would disappear forever. He hadn’t done anything of note, nothing to get him in the annals of history. He hadn’t given great political speeches like Cicero, he hadn’t given the world one of the greatest live performances like Queen, he had just existed. He had a few regrets but that was his biggest. All of the media he had watched and consumed and loved, had shown people, ordinary people, coming from nothing to rise up and become something greater. A beacon of whatever they stood for, love or hope were the usual tropes. So, he descended down the mountain, and went back to the small bed and breakfast he had booked. As he lay, for the last time, on the soft bed, that wasn’t even his, he couldn’t sleep. He knew what he was doing tomorrow and the worst part was, he was excited. He didn’t want to wait, he wanted to do it right that second. But eventually, sleep took him and he had the best rest he had ever had. Just before he slipped into this rest, he was only thinking of one thing. Earlier his mind had been racing but by just laying there staring up at the wooden ceiling, his mind calmed, his heart slowed and he knew what to think of. He could only think of that view from up on the ridge. It was about midday when he was finally ready, he had spent the morning preparing for it to happen, and he was on the verge of making it happen. So, he set off up the mountain trail again, for the last time. When he finally reached the summit, he put his bag down and kneeled at the edge of the ridge. He firmly planted his hands down on the ground and knew this was it. He looked out at the beautiful landscape for one last time, before getting up. He grabbed his bag and turned around. He saw some people were getting close to the ridge, so he scurried down the opposite side of the ridge. Finally, not on any trail or path he was told to go on, he was free. He was free from it all and he was finally at peace and he smiled. As he descended into the wilderness, he came upon one of the forests. With a smile and a feeling inside him that he had never felt, he took his first step into the forest. Never to be seen from again, never to be heard from again but he would always be there.