A/N: So for this first short story, I was instructed to pick a time period without giving away the specific time. Enjoy!

A single drop of sweat dribbled down her forehead as she took her first step off the platform. Murmurs from the audience and distant growls from the animal tent were drowned out by the echo of her own beating heart.

Thump

She takes her second foot off the platform.

Thump

She walks a few steps along the rope.

Thump Thump

She looks down at the audience. Men grip their top hats so tightly that their knuckles have turned white. Some women look at her with awe and fan their faces with the pamphlets they were handed outside, Other women purse their lips tightly, "she isn't wearing enough clothes," they say with their eyes. Children, of course, are excited by her tight rope skills and dreams of being part of the circus bubble in the brains of some individuals.

Thump

She ignores the people below her and keeps walking.

Thump Thump Thump

A cool breeze enters through the open flaps of the circus tent. For the audience it's more than a pleasant welcoming. For the girl it's her worse nightmare coming true. She loses her balance.

Thump Thump Thump Thump

Her foot slips and her hands are too wet with sweat to grip the rope. She screams and the audience joins her as she falls 60 feet. Men are quick to rise and watch the tragedy unfolding before their eyes. The women need an extra second to stand up due to weight of their dresses.

Thump

Everything hurts her. She can't move and hardly breath. She closes her eyes and the pain only worsen. Her entire body now beats to a slow rhythm.

Thhuummpp

She hears the voice of a man. Her eyes barely open to see him take off the jacket of his three-piece-suit and pull up his ruffled sleeves. He gives her a quick examination before falling to his knees beside her. The man takes out a silver pocket watch and gently touches her neck. He lets out a small curse and she knows she must be in bad condition. He informs her that he is going to remove her corset to help her breath better and she moans out a consent.

Thhhuuuummmmp

She can feel her heart slowing down and her head feels heavy. A cane juts out and stops the man from touching her. It takes all the energy she has to will her gaze toward the owner of the cane. Another man with a brown mustache shouts at the man beside her. The second man pulls off his coat and scarf. The two men argue whether or not they should risk undoing the dress. The mustached man points out that the corset is keeping any broken rib in place while stabilizing any further spinal injuries. The other man argues that she can't breathe and there is no point in saving broken bones if she is going to die. They continued to bicker for several minutes and she wanted to say that it didn't matter if the corset should be left on to save her from pain because she couldn't feel much of anything now.

Thu...Thu...Thump

Both men looked up to see another pair of gentlemen in matching attire, carrying a white medical stretcher. Yet, she was the only one who could see Death sitting upon it with his legs crossed, swinging back and forth. The motion lulled her to sleep and a small smile formed on her lips as the constant beating finally stopped.

...

It was at this moment, I finally woke up.

*~*~*~*~*~*