I had been looking forward to this all day, the waiting had been unbearable. I’d been like a child waiting for the little hand to finally hit the three.
I drove up the winding hill, darkness grasping the sides of the narrow road in a vice-like grip, cloaking the road in impenetrable darkness, save for the few streetlights and my headlights illuminating my way.

The table lamp hit the floor, flooding the room in suffocating darkness.

I took the winding twists and turns carefully, only the sound of the cars engine breaking the silence around me. The road felt longer than usual, the gradual climb seeming to go on forever. Finally the Mount Victoria sign came into view, the road widened, giving way to the barren car park, illuminated by the flickering streetlights.

I put the car into park and beeped it locked, the beep sounding loud and piercing in the vast, empty space.

The plate shattered into a million tiny shards as it hit the wall, leaving a deafening silence in its wake.

I moved to the path, away from the street lamps to the infinite steps leading to the look out, my path traced before me by the softly lit floor lamps.

I gripped the hand rail tightly as I climbed the stairs, the side of the mountain blocking my view as I climbed higher; I paused for a moment at the cannon and ran my hand along the length of it, feeling the cold, hard steel making my arm break out in goose bumps.

I could taste the salty tears as they streamed down my cheeks, my heart breaking like the plate into jagged little pieces as the door slammed shut.

I reached up and brushed away a phantom tear as I turned back to the steps leading to my destination. I kept climbing higher until the boulder loomed into view and relief washed over me as I finally reached the top.

The lights of the city below me burst into view like fireworks, the city was alive as it glittered and shone like a precious gem before me.
I crossed the look out to the furthest rail and leant against it, trying to get as close as I could to the shimmering image, to the lights of the ferry, reflected in the softly rippling water. To the blurred, rushing lights of the motorway, and the millions of lights burning bright against the inky horizon.

I drew a shaky breath as I pulled the door open. The plate shards crunching beneath my feet as I made my way out into the cool, black night, and slowly closed the door on the silent house.

I sighed, my body sagging against the steel rail, the bar cool against my skin as all the stress and problems I’d been carrying around finally lightened. I took a deep breath, filling my lungs with the cool night air, keeping my gaze on the buzzing image a head of me.

I looked out on the huge, untiring picture, the scene which made all my problems seem so small and manageable for a small moment. A small, peaceful moment I held on to for as long as I could.
I stayed and looked out for a while, trying to savor the feeling of calm that had stolen over me, I finally took a deep breath and turned back towards the steps leading towards the vacant car park, leaving my problems at the top as I made my way down.
At least for now anyway.