Just one more step.

That's all it would take to step into eternity. Not even that. If the day had been wet instead of dry, his resolve would not be needed. He could fool himself into thinking he was just standing on the precipice, looking at the horizon, without a thought of anything but the space around him... His loose fitting slippers would slip on the mossy rock and responsibility would no longer be an issue.

Saint Peter would ask, "Did you mean to take your life that day?" and Henry would answer, "No, I just wanted a view."

Of course, that was bullshit. The view he wanted was of nothingness, a non view, a non existence, without even Saint Peter to chastise him. He knew it was futile. He knew there was no such thing as God, the Pearly Gates, an endless existence of fire and brimstone for those who chose to decline this "gift" of life.

But still, the lessons learned in childhood refused to die, to lesson their hold, despite their falsehoods. What escape was there? Rationality meant he could spare his family the pain of his ordeal, the endless medical bills, watching him waste away to nothing but bones and paper skin.

Still, one wrong step in these shoes...

Was saving his family grief worth an eternity in hellfire?