prologue

THE SOUND OF laughter and music were dying down on thousandth floor, the party breaking up by bits and pieces as even the rowdiest guest finally stumbled into the elevators and down on their homes. the floor-to-ceiling Windows were squares of velvety darkness, though in the distance the sun was quietly rising, the skyline turning over and pink and soft shimmering gold.

And then a scream cut abruptly through the silence as a girl fell toward the ground, her body falling everywhere faster through the cool predawn air.

In just three minutes, the girl would collide with the unforving cement of East Avenue. But now - her hair whipped up like a banner, the silk dress snapping around the curves of her body, her bright red mouth frozen in a perfect O of shock --- now, in this instant, she was more beautiful than she had ever been. they say that before death. people's lives flash before their eyes. but as the ground rushed ever faster toward her, the girl could think only of the past few hours, the path she'd take that ended here. if only she hasn't talked to him. if only she hasn't been so foolish. if only she hasn't gone up there in the first place.

When the dock monitor found what remained of her body and shakily pumped in a report of the incident, all he knew was that the girl was the first person fall from the tower in its twenty-five years. he didn't know who she was, or how she'd gotten outside.

he didn't know whether she'd fallen, or been pushed, or whether--- crushed by the weight of unspoken secrets --- she'd decided to jump.

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