Chapter One: Sage
I couldn’t see the point anymore, and who would had they had every spark beaten out of them since they were a child. I was empty, I was exhausted, I was done.
My own mother couldn’t stand me. While she had never been physically abusive, and in-front of others she seemed like the most adoring mom in the world, when we were alone and she drank she made her disdain for me clear. My own father refused to acknowledge what had been going on in his absence, what had been going on behind closed doors.
I don’t know why that had cut deeper than the words she had thrown in my face, than his fists, than every horrible thing that had happened in my miserable existence. The fact that my own flesh-and-blood refused to believe me when I finally had the courage to speak-up about what I had gone through was the worst pain of all, and the thing that had finally given me enough courage to leave this cruel world behind.
I had lied to my brother and fathers face when I told them I was going for a walk, when I looked them in their eyes and told them I would see them again later. Had I said the goodbyes I wanted to say they would have known, and they would have stopped me, so I ensured they would be able to find the letter I had left them for when I was gone. It said everything I wanted to say, needed to say, that I couldn’t say in that moment. I hoped they could forgive me, but I couldn’t take it anymore.
I stood on the bridge, overlooking the unforgiving drop beneath my feet as I said my final goodbyes to the cruel world I had been brought into. My hair whipped my face as my tears left scalding trails down my cheeks and I took in a deep breath to steady myself, giving myself the last needed bit of courage to take the final step. With a smile on my face, a smile due to the fact that I would no longer have to endure the hardships this cruel existence kept throwing my way, I lifted my foot and prepared for the peace that would follow this decision within a few seconds.
I started to fall, and for a second I questioned whether or not I would regret this choice, but I knew it was too late. Plus, this is what I wanted, right? Yes. This is what I wanted. I wanted the pain to end. I wanted my suffering to finally end. And this was the only choice.
My body finally began to feel the rush of wind as it began its speedy descent towards its demise when I felt an arm latch around my waist, stopping me so quickly my neck snapped back. I turned and met the gaze of a boy, who couldn’t have been more than a year older than myself, with a horrified expression on his face.
“What are you doing?!” His voice broke as tears began to make his way down his face.
A sad smile crept its way onto my face and I shrugged. “Something I should have done years ago. I’m sorry, I didn’t realize anyone was here.”
He froze, that same horrified expression etched upon his perfect face. “You’re apologizing because I happened to stumble across you trying to throw yourself off a bridge?”
I nodded, turning my face down to the ground in shame. “Well yes, I don’t want to hurt anyone. Seeing someone do that would be permanently ingrained in your head forever, and I don’t want to imagine the impact that would have on your mental health.”
He blinked, “hurt anyone? What about your family? Have you thought about how they would feel without you in their lives? What the loss of you would do to them?”
The irony of his words in comparison to my situation caused me to laugh. “My mother is one of the main reasons for it, and my brother and father will be okay. They never needed me anyways, I was always just a burden to them.”
“I’m sure that’s not true, they love you. Why would you think otherwise?” His tears began to fall quicker, and his breath began to hitch.
Another sad smile made its way to my lips. “That’s a long story, with a lot of moving parts. I don’t think you’ll want to hear it.”
He shook his head. “I don’t care how long the story is. I would rather you sit here and tell me every last detail than kill yourself.”
A look of shock made its way to my face, and tears began to roll down my face yet again. “Why?” My voice broke. “You just met me, why would you care what happens to me?”
He looked me in the eyes as he removed his hand from around my waist, and instead grabbed my hand to help me off the ledge. “Because no one deserves to feel the way you are, and no one deserves to loose their friend, child, or girlfriend to suicide.”
I chuckled bitterly, “I’m no one’s girlfriend. Trust me, it’s better that way.”
He shook his head yet again, but this time a small laugh left his lips. “Well I’m sure it’s their loss. C’mon, there’s a bench a minute walk from here. I want you to talk, and I am here to listen.”
I narrowed my eyes at him and sniffled. “Why would I go anywhere with a guy I just met, I don’t know you. I don’t even know your name.”
He rolled his eyes. “My names Liam, Liam Hunter. Now let’s go, and I’m not taking no for an answer.”
I grumbled under my breath, and took one last fleeting look towards the bridge, before I started following Liam, his hand still entwined with mine. I guess I was going with the outrageously attractive boy before me to spill my guts, not that I really had a choice. He was refusing to take “no” for an answer, and I was in no mood to argue.
