SPACE ODDITIES

STAY

Why had he not thought of it?

The bridge's history was one of the first things people had told him when he arrived. In the '60s till the early '80s, the bridge was famous for being a suicidal spot. Bowie could not stop blaming himself for unpredictable factors as if what was occurring was his fault.

Somehow Bowie believed if he had told Zila the truth, things would be different. Now it was too late; all Bowie wished was to arrive before disaster struck.

Zila stood barefooted in front of the bars, which separated her from her resting place. Sliting her wrists was impossible; she did not have the guts to go through with that.

As she looked at the water, Zila reflected, she did her best to resist in her way. Even this action was her way of protecting herself from more pain, shame, and humiliation.

Zila's phone vibrated on the pavement next to her shoes. She looked at it; she would not pick it up. If it was God Who, It was too late. With her suicide, she would be condemned never to see paradise or the face of God, anyway.

The girl climbed over the wall of bars, one leg after another; strangely enough, she had no fear like she imagined she would.

In the sky, the sun shone. Its rays seemed to direct themselves on Zila in a halo of light. The day was a warm day for March, but there was a little wind, and the water swirled and swirled as the current went.

The metal ledge was warm under her feet, and her mind became empty. Zila had not swum since the age of seven, unable to go to the swimming pool because of her body. She was sure to sink like a rock to the river's bed. The last 15 days passed before her eyes as if they represented her entire life.

Why?

Because they were the best days, they were worthwhile.

The isolated girl almost got a taste of how a typical teenager. Zila got the occasion to interact with others; she even found out how it felt to have a crush.

Bowie, Kai, Nana, and even Kayla, would they remember her?

Will her mother and father regret it; will they miss her even a little? Just a little, she wondered as the tears rolled down her eyes.

Bowie pulled up on the bridge; she could be on either side, he thought but didn't have time to ponder; he ran. Halfway on the deck, he bent to catch his breath. The boy had not fully recovered, and he was forcing himself when he saw her.

"Fuck," Bowie muttered as he realized Zila was on the other side. To get to her, he had to cross the cars which drove across the bridge.

He called her; you idiot, do you really think she has her phone on her?

"Zila," he yelled, running across the bridge, she turned. The girl was shocked to see the young man who she imagined sick in bed.

Bowie, what is he doing here?

The girl felt even more ashamed; she took a last glance at the boy, who was only a few meters away. Zila liked him; she loved him so much. She even briefly allowed herself to dream they could be happy together. His scent, his voice, she would take all of that with her selfishly.

"Ziggy, don't, don't do it. Stay with me."

Zila could not hear him and was unable to read his lips. She whispered something, and she let go of the bar.

Bowie ran, throwing his shoes; he jumped.

As she hit the cold water, Zila fell in shock; she had not expected the water to be so cold. It crashed and shoved her; she had no air left. She opened her mouth to welcome the water which filled her lungs.

Zila did not fight to let the water pull her deeper into its bed.

Bowie swam; his ankle hurt from the two steps he jumped on his stairs. His body was heavy, but he could not give up. The boy dived several times before seeing her; he swam towards her lifeless body.

Mrs. Crumbles, an older woman who walked her dog on Ashes, saw the young man jump called an ambulance while she picked up their belongings. The elder watched the boy dive.

Bowie grabbed Zila and pulled her upwards as he swam to the surface. The boy found out how difficult it was to save someone, and coming to the surface was just the beginning. Bowie swam to the shore while gasping for breath. Every second counted, he started to do the mouth to mouth.

"Please, Ziggy, I beg you hold on, stay with me. Please, stay with me," he cried hopelessly. "Don't leave me; don't leave me, not now," he said in between two breaths and looked up at the sky, "Please, don't take her, please, not now. Not now that I've found her, I haven't even told her, please don't do this. Ziggy, can you hear me, Ziggy?"

Zila coughed; hearing her name called was not what brought her back to life, but it seemed more like death rejected her. Even there in front of the doors of the afterlife, she found her access denied. Bowie hugged her as she coughed.

"Thank you," Bowie said. He was selfish; he was not ready to let her go. He would never let her go.

The police and ambulance sirens exploded in their ears as they approached.

Bowie suddenly felt tremendous pain in the arm, which he used to pull Zila to the surface, but he held her tight because she was precious to him.