The Reason To Live

• CHAPTER ONE •

MAJOR TRIGGER WARNING [mention of suicide]

Amid the dark canvas of the night, the moon shone as a luminous pearl, casting an ethereal glow upon the world below. Kayla pallet found herself standing on the edge of an bridge, her heart heavy with sorrow. The wind howled through the empty streets, its melancholic wail echoing her inner turmoil. The bridge itself, a silent witness to countless stories, bore the weight of time with a graceful dignity, much like her own despair. Delicate icicles adorned its iron railings, glistening like frozen tears mirroring the pain she felt.

Kayla Pallet was the unfortunate soul who found her self on the bridge's edge, stared into the icy abyss below the biting wind's harsh whispers urging her to step back. Her hands were numb but she didn't mind. The Winter's cold was nothing compared to the coldness in her heart. Her desire was simple: for everything to stop. This was her escape, her only way out.

In the midst of this wintry desolation, Kayla remained a poignant figure of sadness, lost in the depths of her thoughts as the world slumbered in the grip of a cold unforgiving night. Tears welled in her eyes and began to flow yet she couldn't fathom why. Did she truly want this life to end?

A dark cloud had settled over her, obscuring the stellar sky. She saw herself as that cloud, and stars represented the good moments in life, hidden by the shadows she cast. The clouds of her despair had moved too slowly and she felt overwhelmed by the weight of her troubles, contemplating a leap into the unknown.

Isolated and alone with her thoughts, she struggled. The thoughts, the darkness, were winning. Kayla's foot hovered over the edge, her grip loosening and she closed her eyes. She pondered what life would be like without her, how the world might react. She leaned forward, then recoiled, her back against the cold metal of the bridge.

Hours passed, and she remained there, her resolve wavering. She wanted to be free from this suffering, but the final commitment felt elusive. In a moment of clarity, she knew what to do next. With her last breath and closed eyes, she was ready to leave this world behind.

Then, a voice pierced the desolation. "Get down from there,"he  said. "No, please, just leave me alone," she cried. "You don't want to do this," the voice replied, panic evident. "You have no idea what I want to do," she retorted.

"I'm Theo Williams" The voice told her. As Kayla leaned forward once more, Theo approached, and she choked out, "Don't come any closer." As she let go with one hand, a fleeting sense of freedom washed over her.

Theo persisted, asking for her name, but Kayla refused to answer. He offered his hand and warmth, despite the frigid night. A brief moment of hesitation crept in, perhaps a glimmer of hope. She reached for Theo's hand, and he helped her back over the railing.
"I'm Kayla by the way" she said as she steady her balance.

As they walked away from the bridge, the dim streetlights illuminating their path, Kayla, now warmer in Theo's coat, asked if they could get coffee. "I doubt anywhere's open,"   "How old are you?" Theo inquired. Kayla, her gaze fixed on the ground, replied, "I'm twenty-three. And you?" she wondered "I'm twenty-four," Theo said with a gentle smile. "My apartment is just a short distance from here," he added, offering a glimmer of warmth in this cold, desolate night. Kayla simply nodded, feeling a fragile connection forming in the darkness and just like that they walked together, two lost souls finding solace in the company of a stranger.

They finally arrived at Theo's apartment, and he turned the key in the lock, allowing them entry. As they stepped inside, Theo flipped on the lights, illuminating the space. Kayla couldn't help but voice her thoughts, her voice laced with a hint of unease. "Walking into a random stranger's apartment... Considering my luck, I've traded the bridge for a murderer's lair," she quipped.