Save Me For The Holidays

Joe

I'm going to be going to New Jersey to see my parents and brothers for Christmas. Well, the day after Christmas. Christmas Day usually gets really crowded at my parents' house, so we usually have a small family dinner the day after. And I have other reasons. My brothers always go on Christmas Day, but I can never really bring myself to go. So I go the day after.

I'm a musician. I'm currently working on my first album. I was now leaving the studio. I live in L.A, so it wasn't too cold.

"Hey, dude, you wanna come over tomorrow? Vanessa wouldn't mind." My best friend, Zac, asked me.

I shook my head, "No thanks. I'll be okay."

"C'mom, man. No one should be alone on Christmas." He tried to persuade me.

"I've been alone on Christmas before. It'll be no different than the past years. Thanks anyway." I shrugged him off.

"Alright. If you change your mind, you know the address. Dinner is at six." He smiled and walked to his car. I sighed and got in mine. Another lonely Christmas.

I was debating if I wanted to go across the bridge or go through the tunnel. I decided to go across Vincent Thomas Bridge.

I played the toll and drove through. I looked to my right and saw a girl standing at the ledge. I looked around and saw that no one was stopping.

I pulled my car over and got out, "Get down, before you fall!" I shouted so she could hear me over the wind.

"That's the point." I heard her say faintly. She kept her eyes down, peering over the ledge. I walked closer to her, "Come any closer and I'll jump." I stopped dead in my tracks.

"Please, don't do this. Let me help you. Why would you want to take your own life away?" I asked. I stepped ever so slowly closer.

"Fir the same reason anybody else would, they're worthless." She answered.

"You're not worthless--"

"You don't know me." She cut me off, and for the first time, we made eye contact. She had cuts and bruises all over her face. I could see from where I was that this girl in front of me, she's meant to be saved.

She looked away, "You're right, I don't know you. So please, tell me. Who are you? What's your name?" I asked. I kept making my way over to her, slowly.

"Demi. Short Demetria." She said quietly.

"Well, Demi, I'm Joe. I'm sure you're worth a lot to people--"

"No, I'm not." She cut me off again.

"What makes you think that?" I questioned.

"My mom died when I was eight. My sister ran away when I was fourteen. My father abuses me anytime he can. Has been since I was four. I don't have any friends. And my family sucks. I have no one. Everyone has either left me or is hurting me. So nobody would care if I died." She explained.

"I would care." I said as I got slightly closer.

"Why?" She turned her head again. There were tears running down her face.

"Imagine standing in my shoes. Imagine knowing you could have helped the person up there. I don't like the idea of suffering like you. If I didn't care, I wouldn't have gotten out my car to speak to you." I answered.

I got on the ledge beside her. She was only about two feet away from me now, "What are you doing?" She looked at me worried.

"If you jump, I jump. Right?" I looked over the ledge. I can't believe I'm up here. I'm so scared of heights, "I'm here for you, Demi. Take my hand. I promise, I'm not like those people." I stretched out my hand.