To Save a Life

Meeting Him

"Insomnia strikes again" I thought sarcastically as I walked down Cranston Rd. towards the famous orange bridge as I often did when I couldn't sleep. It could have been worse. There are definitely worse spots to live nearby and have for walking options. Anyway, it was around 1 in the morning when I reached the bridge. I was about a fourth of the way across when I saw him:
A boy, about my age, standing on the other side of the rail. He had straight blonde hair with bangs that just covered his eyes. He was wearing black skinny jeans and a black t-shirt.
I walked cautiously towards him, not getting too close, not wanting him to get startled and jump. I knew exactly what he was doing. My best friend Julia had done it 5 months ago...
"Hey there." I said. The boy turned around best he could, his arms bent awkwardly to hold on to the rail.
"Don't!" He called. "Don't come any closer."
"Alright." I said. Is it all right if I go here?" Without getting any closer to him, I walked to the railing and leaned against it, looking out over the bay.
"Well I can't stop you." The boy said.
"But you better not try and stop me!"
"Ok." I say. "Can we talk? Do you have a name?"
The boy seemed to think about it for a minute, as if telling his name would cause some disaster. Then, "Nathan" he replied.
"Hi Nathan." I said. "My name's Kaitlin." He didn't say anything.
"What are you doing here, Nathan?"
"I'm gonna jump. What does it look like?"
"Well I see that. I meant why."

"Because my life is shit. And no one really cares."
"You know what I do when my anxiety and Bipolar really get me down" I say. "I do things I enjoy to take my mind off it. Or I talk to people. It really does help. And therapy helps a lot too. Are you seeing someone?"
"I dont have anyone to talk to. Or drive me to therapy." He says. 

"Well I'd talk to you," I say.

"Yea?" he asks, as he turns towards me more. 

"Totally. And drive you to therapy. If.. if you wanted that is." I said before I could stop myself. 
The boy, Nathan, turned around so he was facing the street, his arms over the railing on the safe side, his back to the water. 
"Other things I do are stuff to keep me distracted. Like reading, or playing video games."
"You play video games??" he asked excitedly. "What kinds?"

"How about we make a deal," I said. "Come on this side and I'll tell you. 
He swung just one leg over so he straddled the rail, looked right at me and said "Compromise." 

I laughed. "Alright. Well I've played all the standard games like Zelda, Mario, and Smash Bros. And I've played Call of Duty but I dont care for it much. My favorite game though is Zelda and this series called Kingdom Hearts."

"You play Kingdom Hearts?" He asked, life coming into his voice a little more. 
"Yea!" I replied. Every single one! You too?"

"All but the newest one for 3DS," he said.

"Well Nathan" I said. "I have that one. I'd let you play it if you want."
"Yea?" he asked.

"Totally. But only if you come off that ledge." 

He said nothing for a while. Then, remembering what Julia had said multiple times I said "Come on Nathan. Give life one more chance."
He stayed silent for a while longer. Then, "Alright Kaitlin," he said, swinging his other leg over to the safe side. "One more chance."