You: I thought you weren't depressed
Stranger: I never said I wasn't
You: So you are depressed?
Stranger: I never said that.
You: but you're suicidal
Stranger: it depends. look - you don't have to be depressed to not want to live life. not really. I'm fat. if I wasn't fat I wouldn't want to die. I'm not unhappy, I just don't want to be fat. I hate being fat. that's why everything I eat comes straight back up.
You: that makes no sense
Stranger: I know
You: when did you realise you were bulimic?
Stranger: is that your question?
You: I guess
Stranger: I don't know.. probably when my friend was studying eating disorders in psychology and started telling me all of these signs of how to tell if someone's bulimic. I realised I was ticking them all off.
You: like what?
Stranger: like Russell's syndrome. you know those red marks on your knuckles from shoving your hand down your throat? or getting bloodshot eyes. or bloated cheeks.
Stranger: that kind of thing,
Stranger: my turn
Stranger: so why did you want to kill yourself today? As in - why today?
You: it's been coming for a while. I've just got ties here that I was scared of severing. People that I sort of care about. But then today, something snapped and I realised that I didn't care and that actually, the sooner I disappeared the better it would be for everyone.
You: and like I said, I'm somewhat an optimist. Up until today I would always fight to see the silver lining but suddenly there wasn't any and I don't want to live in a world without silver lining
Stranger: You know, if you make it until the morning we should totally meet up
Stranger: we'd hit it right off I bet
Stranger: Where in the UK are you from?
You: isn't this the part where I scream STRANGER DANGER and disconnect?
Stranger: Come on, Aaron
You: Midlands
Stranger: me too. I'm in Gloucestershire
You: no way!
Stranger: what?
You: I'm in Worcestershire, like one county away!
Stranger: it's like we were destined to be
Stranger: let's make a pact
You: okay, right
You: if I make it to the morning, I'll add you on Facebook and we can arrange more there
You: you do have Facebook, right?
Stranger: course I do
Stranger: what kind of loser do you think I am?
Stranger: name's Hope Waterman
You: nice to meet you Hope Waterman, I'm Aaron Charter.
YOU ARE READING
That Night | ✓
Short StoryIn which two strangers who are both losing their battles connect on Omegle and discover that sometimes, they only get one chance to save a life. Short Story #375 [11.01.16] [current cover by @vaepour]
