The Women at Ocean's End

been a haven, not just for

Pin Hill Island had always

By the time night came in, she had fallen asleep as much from giving up as exhaustion or fear.

beyond a mere whisper. I’m here. I’m here. I’m here.

the air above her head for the rope she’d clung to earlier, maybe she could climb back up again? It was no good. It was not there, it must have ended somewhere above her reach. There was only one thing for it. They would have to find her, maybe just like she’d found that kitten, maybe someone near the fence at the right time would hear her call. And so she began to call out, her voice quickly ascending to a frightened scream which only fed her terror. In the end, her voice grew hoarse and her sobs overtook her calls for help. She was lost down here in the darkness and soon even the slim shaft of light that penetrated from so far over her head began to fade.

she could, clinging to the narrowing shaft of daylight as if it could save her from what was clearly unavoidable. She wanted to scream – tried hard to call out for help – but her voice caught somewhere in her throat, her breath halted in her lungs, she was beyond making a sound, too petrified to do much more than hang on.

gravity; gripping hungrily

fighting against fate and

drop beneath. She slid

her let go, but for the