Short Stories

Anxiety Bridge Woman

I could feel my heart pounding with anxiety as I looked over the rail of the bridge. My head was screaming at me to jump, it'll be fine if I did, no one would care or even miss me if I jumped.

I felt tears well up in my eyes. I knew I didn't want to die, so why am I thinking these things? I saw people walking past me, mostly families walking across the San Francisco Bridge for vacation. I knew if I jumped I would be scaring these families for life.

"Spare change for the poor? Spare change for the homeless?" I saw an old black man walking along the cement.

"Spare some-..well hello little lady, whatcha doin?" He asked.

I sighed."sorry I don't have my wallet on me at the moment."

"How come?" He asked leaning against the rail while looking at me. He peaked over into the deep ocean."think you gonna jump?"

"It's a long story that I don't need to tell you old man." I huffed as I gripped the rails of the bridge."besides, shouldn't you go hassle someone else that actually has money? Like a family or rich kids? Why bother me?"

The old man looked at me with a frown."you know I thought about jumping so many times. After losing my son, my job, and my wife divorcing me I thought I'd be through. But you know what kept me going?"

I looked at him with disbelief and scoffed."sorry but your story has no relation to mine. I've done shit and seen shit."

The old man took a breath before talking."now I know it may be difficult and seems like there's only one solution to the problem, but trust me, death is not an answer. Look, I tell you what, give it one more chance. Or let me show you a more beautiful side of life then tell me if you still want to jump off this bridge here. What do you say?" He stretched out his hand.

I stared at the ocean then back at the old man before taking his hand."alright."