Sarah Waters

She was about to be married, and was frightened to death. And no-one would love her, ever again.

One time, two years ago, I took a draught of morphia, meaning to end my life. My mother found me before the life was ended, the doctor drew the poison from my stomach with a syringe, and when I woke, it was to the sound of my own weeping. For I had hoped to open my eyes on Heaven, where my father was; and they had only pulled me back to Hell.

She closed her eyes and let the rain fall on her face, and after another second, I could not have said what were raindrops, and what tears.