Towards the edge

Sometimes it felt like she was hurtling towards something, she didn't know what, it just felt really ominous. Maybe a precipice or the edge of a cliff. It was like a bad dream that she'd had years ago. One of those dreams that hang over you like a dark cloud all day.

 Ellie put on her coat and attached Buster's lead to his collar. He wriggled around trying to bite it in his excitement to go for a walk.

It had been a year now since Greg had left her. Traded her in for a new model was what her sister had said.  Just like that, she'd gone past her sell by date. Her mother was convinced he would come back. How could he not want her beautiful Ellie? Now though even Ellie had given up hope.
 Her days past in a blur, in a whirl of work, shopping and cooking, going to the gym with her sister and taking Buster for walks, anything that could dull the pain, but never did.

Ellie felt like she was on automatic pilot heading for a crash. She was going to topple over into oblivion.

 Buster tugged hard on the lead. He had seen a squirrel on the other side of the road. With one final pull his lead snapped and he broke loose and charged across the traffic.
 Ellie screamed and started to blindly run after him. Then strong arms grabbed her and she fell back. She saw a woman run after Buster and grab his lead then she turned round to see who had  pulled her back, who had saved her.
It was her new neighbour Brent.
 Her sister had told her about him. He was a doctor from South Africa on an exchange visit.
Ellie started to tremble as she looked into his eyes. It was nothing to do with the fright she'd just had. For the first time since Greg left she felt that something had tilted and she was back on safe ground, no more hurling desperately forward. Her world swivelled and came level.

She smiled warmly at Brent and the way he smiled back caused a warm glow of happiness to steal over her.

Brent spoke first.

' I think we both need a cup of strong tea after that fright, and your dog needs a new lead.'

New beginnings are always round the corner

Standing on a cliff edge you can get a whole new perspective and the glimmer of hope