Chapter 14 Falling Off a Cliff
My friend Amelia was right behind me, muttering nonstop. She called Daniel heartless and blind, saying he'd regret it. She thought Zoe was just showing off and being fake, and that I was too naive to compete with her.
Amelia was really worked up. I let her finish her rant before telling her that Daniel and I were over and to drop it. She scolded me like a worried mom, upset about my love life.
I knew Amelia meant well, but it was clear: I had moved on from Daniel, and there was no point in rehashing it.
Whether I liked Daniel was my business, not his.
Whether Daniel liked Zoe was his business, not mine.
Amelia was mad that I gave up so easily. She said guys today liked girls who played innocent and that someone like me, who didn't scheme, would never win a guy's heart.
I didn't argue with her. I just stood there, occasionally handing her water to calm her down.
Then Lillian called, saying they found a peach tree growing on a cliff, full of fruit, and asked us to come see. Peach trees are common, but one on a cliff was rare, so Amelia and I rushed over.
When we got there, Lillian and the others were leaning on the railing, talking about how the peach tree managed to grow so strong in the rock crevices.
Sure enough, there was a big peach tree on the east-facing slope, hanging off the cliff, loaded with peaches. Some were already turning red, ready to be picked.
I pulled Amelia over. The cliff was nearly vertical, covered in vines. The valley below was misty, with a small stream and tall trees.
The peach branch seemed close enough to grab. The ripe fruits swayed, tempting me.
Feeling adventurous, I climbed onto the railing, ignoring my friends' warnings, and reached for a peach branch.
Maybe it was my bad luck, or the railing was too old, I suddendly felt weightless and started falling.
It wasn't until I heard their screams that I realized I was falling off the cliff. Panic set in. I hadn't even had a real relationship yet, and so much life left. I didn't want to die!
At the last moment, I managed to grab a vine growing out of the rock, hanging in mid-air.
I looked up and saw I was about seventy feet from the top. Below me was another seventy feet, making me dizzy and terrified.
A gust of wind blew, and I swayed like a leaf on water.
I screamed, feeling like my heart was about to leap out of my chest.
The situation was dire; climbing up seemed impossible, and going down meant certain death.
Even trying to climb up could be fatal. Why was my luck so twisted?
Lillian and the others were shouting from above, but the wind drowned out their voices. I focused on the vine, praying silently, "Please don't break!"
I was terrified. If I died, my parents would be devastated. I feared being buried in darkness forever, never seeing the light again.
This was a tourist area, and there was a rescue team nearby. They arrived quickly.
When two rescuers finally pulled me up, Daniel and Zoe ran towards me. "Jane! How could you be so careless? Are you hurt?" Daniel asked, his concern feeling fake.
I was wearing a short-sleeved t-shirt and denim shorts for climbing. My exposed arms and legs were scraped and bloody.
Fear and anxiety left me speechless.
Zoe squatted between us, intercepting Daniel's outstretched arm, and gently said, "Daniel, don't worry, Jane will be fine."
Shivering from the cold and the shock, I closed my eyes, not wanting to see them flaunting their affection.
When the rescue team carried me down, the ambulance was already there. My friends rode with me as it sped to the hospital.
From the mountain to the ambulance, Daniel stayed close to Zoe, while my old friends surrounded me.
Daniel might not have romantic feelings for me and could just see me as a sister. But we had known each other for nineteen years. In my moment of crisis, Daniel was indifferent.
I thought, 'Daniel's heart is truly cold! Even a small dog in danger would get some sympathy. Do I mean less to Daniel than a dog?'
When the ambulance reached the hospital, I saw Ronan and Helen rushing over, tears streaming down my face.
I had gone out to clear my mind because of Daniel, but he ignored my injuries, while my parents wept for me.
Thankfully, there were still people who cared about me, which brought me some comfort.
When I came out of the emergency room, I had several large white bandages, carefully applied by the nurses.
During my four-day hospital stay, Ronan and Helen took care of me tirelessly. Hugh and Emma visited daily, bringing flowers and snacks.
I felt embarrassed and sorry for Hugh and Emma. My parents and I told them they didn't need to come so often, as the hospital had everything we needed.
But Hugh and Emma insisted on visiting, not saying much, just waiting for me to finish eating and drinking, then taking the things back and preparing for the next visit.
I understood Hugh and Emma's intentions. They were making up for Daniel's lack of care.
Hugh and Emma genuinely cared for me. But they didn't need to do this. Daniel was Daniel, and they were who they were. I wouldn't confuse the two.
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