Collection Of Short Stories

10 minutes

"Don't jump! Please!"

The guy is so startled by the voice that he almost falls down from the edge of the roof to his death. He looks back to see a girl. She has a look of desperation. Whatever she says is not going to change his mind. He wants release. He ignores her and turns back to look down from where he is standing. He could feel the cold breeze against his back, almost as if the universe is trying to push him. He looks down the 10 storied building, is it enough to kill him? It has to be.

"Give me 10 minutes"

What is the girl still doing here? He looks back again only to see her midway with her hand held high. She is brandishing something small and black in her hand. She pushes it into his view and he can see that it's a mobile. He has to jump fast. She's going to call someone. He looks down again and sees the Street lamps glowing and casting eerie shadows.

"Go Away! You don't want to see this." he says.

"You're right, I don't. Look at me"

He doesn't have the time for this. If this stupid girl wants to look at him dying then so is it. He has made up his mind and he will go through this.

"Look, please! I am not calling anyone! See I have taken out the battery! "

That caught his attention. He slowly turns his head to see her take out the battery and kick it out of reach.

"For all I know you've already called the police and they are on their way. Just go away unless you want to see me jump. "

"Just listen to me for 10 minutes, please. You don't even have to get down. Just stay where you are. If the police come you can jump. But they won't because I haven't called them. Just listen to me"

"You can't change my mind you know. I have made up my mind. "

"I am not trying to talk you out of suicide. I am just asking you to postpone in 10 minutes. "

"And then you'll leave?"

"Yes."

"You won't call the police?"

"I won't"

"I can't trust you"

"You shouldn't, but as soon as I am gone you can jump. I can't save you. I am no supergirl. "

"Okay, you have 10 minutes"

"Wait, can you at least sit down? I don't want you to lose your balance and fall to your death while I am still here"

And just like that they are sitting on the edge. She is sitting farther away so that she could not reach him but at the same time they can see each other. He can just barely make out her features in the dim roof lights.

"If you are thinking of saying some sh*t about God and hell and sin, save it. I'd rather jump. "

"Literally"

"Seriously? You gonna joke about this now? "

"What does it matter, you'll jump anyway. No wait don't jump! Okay I'll be serious! "

He gives a grunt and asks her to carry on.

There is a gush of cold wind and for a moment they could hear nothing but the howling winds.

She grips the edge tightly and closes her eyes.  She takes a deep breath and looks at him.

"What do you want?" she asks.

"What?!"

"I asked-"

"I heard what you said! But is that it? You on some kind of mission to fulfill a dying man's wish? If that's the case, then let me tell you that I want nothing more than release from this world! "