𝐄𝐃𝐆𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐅𝐀𝐈𝐓𝐇 | ᴊᴀᴠɪᴇʀ ᴘᴇɴᴀ |

~ 1 ~

｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆ ｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆ ｡･:*:

The wind was cold and biting at 6 am, the kind that cuts through even the thickest layers and chills you to the bone. San Francisco was just beginning to wake up, its iconic fog hanging heavy in the air, muffling the world and making the city feel like it was holding its breath. The bridge, usually bustling with traffic and tourists, was eerily quiet at this hour. It was almost peaceful, if not for the storm raging inside me.

My name is Madison Rose, and I stood on the precipice of life and death, teetering on the edge of the Golden Gate Bridge. Tears streamed down my face, mingling with the mist, as I looked out over the bay. I could hear the water below, crashing against the rocks, a distant roar that seemed to call to me.

My life had always been complicated, a series of responsibilities and heartaches that I had never asked for but somehow always found myself saddled with. Born in a rundown neighborhood in New York City, I had grown up quickly, forced to care for my younger brother and sister while my parents' marriage disintegrated around me. The weight of their expectations had always been heavy on my shoulders, and I had borne it all with a sense of duty that eventually morphed into a suffocating burden.

Despite the odds, I had clawed my way out of that bleak existence. I had moved to San Francisco and built a life for myself. I had poured every ounce of my energy into my career, growing up until I found my self in a really important agency. Baker Firm Law Agency was now a one of the most importanr Lawyer Agencies in the United States. As lawyer, I was hailed as a visionary, someone who had turned from a miserable person to someone who everyone relied in.

But success had not brought me happiness. Despite the accolades, the wealth, and the respect of my peers, I felt empty. I moved through life like a ghost, haunted by a past I couldn't escape and a future that seemed devoid of meaning. I had lost myself somewhere along the way, becoming a hollow shell, a facade of strength and confidence that masked the profound loneliness and despair I felt inside.

I had tried to fill the void with work, with distractions, even with brief flings that never seemed to last. But nothing had worked. The emptiness gnawed at me, a relentless ache that had driven me to this moment, standing on the edge of the bridge, contemplating the unthinkable.

With a deep, shuddering breath, I stepped onto the handrail, the cold metal biting into my palm. I closed my eyes, the tears flowing freely now, my mind a chaotic swirl of regrets and broken dreams. I didn't know if I had the courage to go through with it, but I also didn't know if I had the strength to keep going. I felt trapped, with no way out.

Suddenly, a strong grip seized my arm, pulling me back from the brink with surprising force. Startled, I gasped and turned to face the person who had stopped me. A man, his eyes wide with concern and panic, held me firmly.

"No," he said, his voice urgent but kind. "This is not the solution. You don't have to do this."

I couldn't speak, my throat tight with emotion. I shook my head, trying to pull away, but his grip remained firm.

"Let me call a emergencies," the man said, his eyes searching mine for some sign of understanding. "Are you okay?"

"No," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "Don't call anyone. Please."

He hesitated, clearly torn, but then nodded. "Okay, calm down. Any family, friends? Someone I can call for you?"

I shook my head again, the tears coming harder now. I felt like I was drowning, the weight of my pain threatening to drag me under. Without thinking, I collapsed against him, sobbing uncontrollably.

"I'm sorry," I cried, my words muffled against his chest. "I'm so sorry. You shouldn't have... I'm not worth it."

The man held me, his arms strong and reassuring. "It's okay," he murmured, his voice a soothing balm to my frayed nerves. "You're going to be okay. I promise."

We stood there for what felt like an eternity, the world around us a blur. My sobs eventually subsided, replaced by a bone-deep exhaustion that left me feeling hollow and spent. I didn't know what the future held, didn't know if I could ever find my way back from the darkness. But for the first time in a long time, I felt a glimmer of hope, a tiny spark that maybe, just maybe, I wasn't as alone as I had thought.

He pulled back slightly, his hands resting on my shoulders as he looked into my eyes. "Let's get you somewhere safe," he said gently. "Let me get you home."

I looked at him, really seeing him for the first time. His face was etched with worry and kindness, a stranger who had cared enough to stop me. I nodded slowly, too tired to argue, and allowed him to guide me away from the edge.

"What's your name?" I asked quietly as we walked.

"Javier," he replied. "What about you?"

His arm behind my back held me firmly, as if he was afraid I was going to collapse. "Madison."

He looked up at me smiling, placing his sunglasses on top of his head so I could see his eyes. "That's a beautiful name."

I looked away quickly, focusing on the floor trying to concentrate to stop crying. "You don't have to do this, I'll get myself a cab."

"No, it's okay, it's my day off, I have nothing to do," he hurried to say as we approached a black Audi. "I had actually come into town to take a ride, I needed to clear my head."

A lump formed in my throat. "I've ruined your day, I'm so sorry."

"I don't want to be hard on you, because we don't even know each other, but you would have ruined my day if I had let you pull there," he said, his voice half breaking. "On the contrary, I've met a gorgeous woman."

I smiled internally, as I was so tired I could barely move a muscle in my face.

Once we got to the car, he opened the passenger door for me so I could sit down and then went to his seat. "You're too nice to even know you, you might even be being too nice to take me anywhere to do anything to me, but I don't even have the strength to care, do whatever you want to me."

He took my hand gently. "Let me do this, please, I won't be in peace if I don't know whether you have arrived safely or not. I appreciate you being able to trust me," the ringing of his phone interrupted us. "Give me a minute." Javier got out to take the call.

I couldn't help but marvel at his kindness, wondering if it was okay to trust a stranger with such vulnerability. But then it hit me, the realization of what I had nearly done on the bridge, and the gravity of it all washed over me like a tidal wave.

In that moment, exhaustion consumed me, and I found myself leaning back in the seat, my eyes heavy with tears. The events of the morning had taken their toll, and as I closed my eyes, I couldn't help but replay the scene on the bridge over and over in my mind.

Eventually, the weight of it all became too much to bear, and I drifted into a fitful sleep, haunted by the specter of what could have been.

[To be continued...]