Steph could hear the sound of gunshots in her mind; sharp; cutting through the air so easily.ÌýEasily, it'd happen easily.ÌýTurning the gun over in her hand, Steph savoured long and infrequent breaths.ÌýIt was cool to touch.ÌýThe cold metal soothed her clammy hands. It was beautiful.ÌýIt really was.ÌýSome people called guns weapons; Steph didn't.ÌýIt was a beauty; a masterpiece; a design marvel.ÌýShe felt empowered and in control.ÌýNothing could hurt her now.ÌýNothing. Steph thought back; delving deep into her memory.ÌýTears filled her eyes; bitter, stinging tears.ÌýShe hadn't deserved any of this.ÌýThe physical pain was hard to bear but it was the emotional suffering that caused her to despair.ÌýIt was the loneliness that made Steph really question whether life was worth living. There was only one way to stop it all.ÌýShe had to get rid of the person who'd caused all this suffering.ÌýThat girl who picked fault at everything Steph did, who criticised her every move and pushed the people she loved away from her. Steph couldn't walk away from this monster.ÌýYes, that's what she was; a monster disguised in the body of a girl.ÌýSteph just couldn't understand.ÌýHow could something so small, so seemingly harmless, tear up everything and ruin her whole life?ÌýWho gave her the power to destroy Steph? Everything had been going so well; Steph was always an A-grade student, she had some great friends and, most importantly, she had hope.ÌýShe had a future ahead of her; a bright future.ÌýOf course, she'd had her problems, just like anybody else.ÌýBut Steph had always managed to deal with them, overcome them, and move on. Now, though, she was stuck in a rut.ÌýHer life wasn't going anywhere.ÌýShe continued to do well at school but what good is that when you're desperate and hopeless? Everybody says that good exam results give you a future, that's only when you can see beyond today though.ÌýThat's only true when you think the future might be better.ÌýAs far as Steph could see, things would only get worse though. Thinking about all the little moments that had made her feel worthless caused an indescribable feeling to wash over Steph.ÌýShe'd become truly invisible.ÌýNobody ever directed a question at her, or asked her to go shopping, or hugged her and cared about why she was unhappy.ÌýThey weren't trying to be horrible; it wasn't their fault.ÌýIt was her fault. Steph could hardly bear to think of her.ÌýResentment rose in her blood, her veins burning.ÌýShe was angry.ÌýNo, she was beyond being angry.ÌýShe was despairing. After months of crying herself to sleep, struggling to keep her friends and praying that tomorrow would offer a glimmer of hope, Steph had had enough.ÌýThis, she knew, was the only way forward.ÌýIt was the only way she could move on. As Steph continued to caress the gun, oh my, it was stunning, a smile flickered across her face.ÌýThis convinced her, even more, that she was doing the right thing.ÌýShe hadn't smiled in a long, long time. She could have closure now; move on to something better.ÌýThe girl who'd taken everything from her, could finally be gone; extreme, maybe, but necessary. Every time the possibility of defeat crossed her mind, Steph quickly pushed it away.Ìý Would she have the strength to go through with this?ÌýYes, she continuously told herself, she had to.ÌýThat monster didn't deserve to be alive; she was barely human.ÌýShe had it coming to her.ÌýIt was for the best. Steph had never been religious but she thought it'd be fitting to say a prayer.ÌýAs she prayed for this hell to be over, Steph began to feel a tingling sensation creeping through her limbs.ÌýIt was time, she knew that. Steph sat down on the cold stone floor and looked at the gun one last time.ÌýSlowly, she raised her arm and pressed the barrel of the gun against her scalp.ÌýFor months Steph had been blaming everybody else for what had gone wrong.ÌýFinally though, she realised that she'd been ruining her own life. Bang. | 
