Tranquility

First call

I think about that sometimes, vividly
What it felt like to look down and see tranquility
One sudden movement in a world of possibility
Only one movement to expose our fragility

23.11 Last call for the night.

"Suicide Hotline, Harry speaking."

Silence.

"Hello? Someone there?"

"Hi." Lifeless voice. Male.

"Hi, who am I talking to?"

Sigh.
"Does it matter?"

"You don't have to give me your name. What's on your mind?"

Inhale. Exhale.
It sounds like he's smoking.
"Harry... Have you ever looked down at the dark water and seen tranquility?"

Chills.
A jumper?
The tireness I felt a minute ago is gone. I'm alert.
"Are you on a bridge?"

"Yes. You didn't answer me question." Inhale. Exhale.

"Uhm, not really, but..."

"Never mind then."

"Wait! Don't hang up. Talk to me! Are you jumping?" I panic.

"Thinking about it."

"So you're suicidal?"
Stupid question.

"This is the Suicide hotline, after all, isn't it?"

Ironic. He has humour. Dark.

"Yeah, sorry. Please talk to me about it. Why?"
I'm usually much better at my job, but he somehow threw me off.

"I took a left
Tryna make it right."

So cryptic and poetic at the same time. I'm curious about this guy.
"I really want to hear more about it. Can you please climb to safety if you're on the wrong side of the bridge?"

"I'm not."

"Good."
I let out a breath of relief.

"Not really, but I live to see another day. Thanks for taking me call. Bye, Harry."

"No, wait!"

The line is dead. I stare at the phone. Sigh. Hang up. Unsettled.
I couldn't reach him. Get him to open up. Hopefully, he didn't jump.
Tonight.

Sometimes, I hate this job.