By the time he reached the train station, she was gone. He sprinted to the edge of the deck, lifting his hand up to cover his eyes from the blinding rays of the sun. A trail of smoke lay thick in the air as the train sped up. Now not only was the sky shrouded with the color gray, but also the heart of the man. He felt it start to crack, piece by piece his world was falling apart. Just the thought of never seeing her again... Was enough to drive him insane. She left him with nothing. No way of communication, and nothing to remember her by.
He dug his hand through his coat pocket, feeling around for what he thought was going to change the odds. His eyes grew dark as he pulled the ring out. He mulled it around in his palm, slowly running his finger over the stone multiple times. It was as if he was trying to remember something. Perhaps trying to remember back to a time before now. But it was no use. Reminiscing in the past would get him no where.
He shoved the ring back into his worn coat, and took one last look at the train. Then, he tread home.~~~
The man lay in bed, trying to fall asleep. For him it seemed nearly impossible, he couldn't get her off his mind. His thoughts were spiraling out of control. She was driving him mad.
Eventually he gave up on sleep, and reached into his desk for his journal. He flipped to his first entry. He skimmed over his horrible handwriting and grammar, until he found himself thinking back to the memory.
***FLASHBACK***'It's 5 PM,' he thought. 'I need to get home so I can study for the upcoming exams. But it would be nice for a break.. I'll take a quick walk and study later.'
He found himself walking along a path that led to a wooden bridge. With every step he took, the boards creeked. Then, his eyes drift up to a figure.
'A woman?' He thought getting closer.
The closer he got, the clearer the scene became. She was standing on the edge, preparing to fall.
"Hey don't jump!!!!!!!" He screamed.
She twisted her head around to match the voice to the figure sprinting toward her.
She leapt.
Closing her eyes, she braced herself for certain doom. That is, until she felt her body jerk. A hand had gripped hers, preventing her from falling.
"Let me go!!!!!" She yelled, kicking her feet back and forth. She looked up to the owner of the hand gripping hers.
"No! I won't let go!" He frowned.
"Why not! Why would you care if I die or not! There's nothing left for me here anyway!"
"Don't say that! There's plenty to live for!!! Besides I'm sure someone would miss you." He debated.
"How would you know?! My entire family hates me! My father is dead, and I'm failing school! Because of my horrible grades, my mother beats me! She calls me a 'devil child' and worthless! Nobody loves me, and nobody ever will!" She screamed.
The man fell silent. Then replied.
"What is your name?"
"What..?" She spoke confused.
"I said, what is your name?" He asked once more.
She hesitated.
"My name is... Melody..."
"Well Melody, you have a lot to live for. There's more to life than school and family. You have your entire life ahead of you! Your career, your friends, you have so much to look forward to if you can just survive and hold on! You're beautiful! Someday you'll find someone who loves you for who you are! You just have to look! Sometimes, they might even be right in front of you!"
"..... you think so....?" She looked up at her rescuer.
"I know so!" He smiled.
Her eyes twinkled in the light of the sunset. A tear rolled down her face.
He pulled her up to safety, practically straining his arm for holding her so long.
"Thank you....!" She cried.
He grinned with the incredible feeling, knowing that he saved her from death.
"Melody?" He spoke.
"Yes?"
"Don't ever jump. Please."
"I won't."
He released her from his arms, and began to walk off.
"Wait!" She yelled.
"What is it?"
"I don't even know your name..." She continued.
"It's Jared. Jared Hayes."
"J-jared... Um.. You saved me... I believe I owe you one... Um... Perhaps I could take you out somewhere.... To thank you?" She stuttered.
He turned around. With a bright smile on his face, and replied.
"I'd like that."
"Great! Um does meeting here at 5PM sound okay? We can decide where to go tomorrow..."
"Sounds like a plan. See you then." He waved, then head home.~~~ FLASH BACK END ~~~
Jared lay back in his chair, smiling as he remembered how he felt in saving her. But in reality, she had saved him.
He put back the journal, and lay back down. He forgot about his depression for a moment, and gave in to sleep.