Tearing my eyes away from the lake's watery depths, I glanced at my trembling hands. The knowledge of the horrors lurking beneath the surface stole my breath—I was suffocating.

"Forgive me, Lord, for I have sinned."

Though I had long abandoned the church, the long-forgotten words still slipped from my lips—forgiveness. Such comforts felt distant. A stiff smile formed at the thought. How could I seek forgiveness for deeds so removed from human beings?

Like the snap of a taut string, I jerked away from the pier's edge. Distance couldn't assure safety, yet my body reacted before my mind could catch up; it still yearned for survival.

However, I had lost that spark, that desire to cling to life. The actions I'd been complicit in had made me lose that qualification. Deep down, I understood that my inaction, although a form of atonement, was also to avoid taking responsibility, to avoid confronting what my actions meant for myself as an autonomous individual.

I didn't want to think anymore. The more I comprehended the finality of it all…

"Shae... I'm sorry... I didn't mean to... I promise..."

The broken defence fell on dead ears. As the resounding silence enveloped me, I stepped forward, drawing closer to the water's edge.

*Crack*

The sea creature's appendage pierced the water's surface, slicing through the air. I felt a tight grip around my torso, causing my rib cage to crack under the pressure.

Slipping beneath the water's surface, the silence finally welcomed me.

No more agonizing thoughts. No more self-inflicted misery. Just silence.