she stood at the edge of a steep ravine. before her the earth fell away, thorn and bramble clinging desperately to bare rock and loose scree, dropping down through mist and spray, white water surging through rocks far below.

she kicked off her ruined shoes and tugged the ragged remnants of her dress over her head, letting the tattered scrap of cloth dangle from her dirty fingers. she stretched out her arm over the gorge and opened her fingers, letting the dirty, torn rag fall from her hand. the wind took it, lifting and swirling it. it danced on the wind, dodging the grasping branches, sailing down, settling on the water far below and rushing away down stream.

she closed her eyes and stretched out her arms, rising up on the tips of her toes. the sun was warm on her face, the wind soft and cool on her breasts and belly. somewhere high above her a lark sang, the notes dropping down out of the sun like liquid molten melody.

she sighed, and sank back on her heels, and turned, and walked away, padding barefoot and naked back into the shadows beneath the trees.