This Is It

There was nothing I could do. You were there and I was here.
There were no words, no messages, no photos that could convey how wide and far and vast and unknown that space was between there and here.
For so long I held on so tightly to a thin rope that stretched the distance. It dared to defy the looming gap that existed between there and here, you and i, our two opposite moving lives.
I tried to shout to you on the other side of the chasm. I tried to imagine a day where we might stand on the same flat ground again. I got so close to the edge- almost fell in, trying to see you over there. Hand to my forehead, shielding my eyes from the wind, I squinted and focused and hoped I would see you. But I almost fell in doing so.
I almost fell in.
So I let go of the rope. I lowered my voice and took a cautious step back.