John stormed out of the house his parents were such jerks, he was 16, practically an adult what did they know?

Ten minutes later he was climbing over the high wire fence and on up the steep steps towards the castle,to the first level then on up the dark enclosed passage to the summit.

It felt good up here, like nothing could touch him,

John looked out over the town, down in the valley below people going about their evening routine didn’t even know he existed.

He stood leaning over the railings, kicking the ancient stones beneath his feet .

What did they know? Why couldn’t he have a motorbike?

His brother had been riding for nearly six months, every evening out with his friends, away from this crumby town, he got to travel the country, barbecues at the beach, Newquay nightclubs, life just wasn’t fair.

Out of the corner of his eye John caught site of Andy, down below on the walkway.

Minutes later Andy was there beside him, both chipping away at the brickwork with their modern trainers.

“What’s to do” said Andy

“Nothing, just killing time”

Andy stood up, climbed over the safety railings and began to walk the wall edge, gingerly round the old building until he came to a dead end, he spun round on his heels arms outstretched for balance, carefully he made his way back, and with a grin climbed back to the safety of the castle floor.

Andy grinned “Go on then, your turn”

John was not naturally someone who liked heights, but he couldn’t loose face in front of Andy, word would soon get back to School and he would be a laughing stock, even his little sister had walked the wall.

The cool summer breeze was gone now and he noticed how dark it had suddenly become.

John climbed the railings and stepped out onto the thin crumbling wall arms outstretched his plastic trainers feeling every stone of the wall, it was only a few feet, but it may as well have been a mile.

Carefully he placed his feet, noting every loose stone and pebble.

“Hurry up” shouted Andy “I want to get home sometime tonight.”

John looked up, and for a split second lost concentration, his foot wavered and before he new what was happening he was falling, his fingertips grabbing for something, anything to slow his fall, nails instantly ragged, blood starting to flow from his red raw hands

“Relax” The words seemed to form in johns mind” trust me brother”

The breeze that had seemed so cold only a moment before now surrounded him like a warm velvet glove, lifted him away from the wall and down onto the grass below.

He sat for what seemed an age, trying to comprehend what had just happened. Andy was by his side now “ did you see that? You must be the luckiest guy alive”

John walked home alone still shaking, his hands red and throbbing

Lights still on, it was late thought John.

He was greeted at the door by his mother, eyes red, she clutched him to her “it’s your brother, he’s dead, he was killed this afternoon on his bike.