Saving a Life

Chapter 2: Eli

As I walk in to the assembly, I feel sick. It is my first day at Kennedy High School and I have never been very good at making friends. All the silly protocols you have to follow if you are new are just ridiculous. Where to sit, how to walk, what to wear. It is always different at each school too. I used to try and keep up with everyone, but now I just decide to sit back and go unnoticed until my parents sweep me off to a different school and I have to start all over again. Mr. Reynolds told us this assembly would be short and then we could go onto our regular class schedule. I hope he's right. Just standing here looking at the rows of bleachers is giving me anxiety. Girls are running and screeching at each other about what they did over the summer and who they dated and whatever girls talk about when guys are not around. And all the guys are talking about sports and video games and randomly bonking heads with each other. That seems smart. Let's see how hard I can ram my head into your head and see if one of us gets brain damaged. To late boys! I pace the bleachers looking for an open spot and find one at the very top of the bleachers which are set up in the giant, roach infested gym. A single microphone stands in the middle of the gym where I am assuming the principal will come to talk to us and tell us what a great year we will be having together. So cheesy by the way. This is the one thing that never changes no matter where you go. People will always pretend they care about you and then can barely remember your name. I brought with me my copy of "The Catcher and the Rye." I was reading it when the principal came out and started talking about how great this school is and what a wonderful year it was going to be (told you). But then I started feeling sick again. I just knew I had to get out of there. I needed some fresh air. So, I walked calmly over to Mr. Reynolds to ask if I could go to the bathroom. As soon as he said yes, I raced out of the gym and scrambled to find an exit. All the doors on the first floor were locked. However, I eventually stumbled apon an open door that led up a wicked flight of stairs. I scaled the stairs two at a time and was eventually at the top of the stairs and I push open the door. The top of the Kennedy High School building was beautiful and you could see all of downtown from here. But what really caught my eye was the girl standing on the ledge of the building, toes right on the edge. She was beautiful. Not like a super model though. She was just so average. So regularly beautiful. I couldn't stop looking at her. I heard her sniffling and I quietly walked over.

"I'm sorry. But are you okay?" She looked at me like I just asked her what partial physics was.

"Oh, yeah I'm okay," she wiped her tear stained cheeks with the back of her hand. "I just, I haven't seen you around here."

"Well, I'm new."

"Oh."

"You need a hand?" I say, I hold out my hand to offer her to climb off the edge.

"Um yeah no thanks."

I cock my head slightly "Why not?"

"Well this is kind of tough to explain to you," she suddenly glances over her shoulder and starts to shake her head, "I'm going to jump."

"Seriously?"

"Like a heart attack."

"I understand," I say nodding.

"You do?" She looks at me like I'm a puzzle she just can't quite piece together.

"Yeah, that feeling that you're just not enough for anyone. Not your family, friends, strangers, anyone. And all you want to do if feel better and just as you start to think there's a ray of hope, it's clouded by what people really think of you. All you want if for it to be over."

"Wow."

"Yeah," I laugh and run my hands through my short dark hair, "This isn't my first rodeo." There is a long silence following my confession. I think she's trying to figure out whether to jump or not. I really hope she doesn't. I think she could be a real friend at this new school.

"So," she starts, "how do I make this awful feeling go away?"

"It doesn't," I state firmly, "you just get a little better each day. It never goes away, it just gets a little easier as time goes by." She seems sad at my answer. I really don't know what to tell her though. It's not like there is some secret potion to cure depression. "But, if you wanted, I could help you." She gives me a forlorn smirk.

"I'd like that."

"Great," I smile too, "Well, I'll need to know your name."

"My name is Georgia."

I stick my hand out again and this time, she takes it. "My name is Eli."