How To Save A Life

Fiona

“Mike!” They yelled. When the boy didn’t come running, they called him again.

                What they didn't know was that Mike could not hear them from the roof of their apartment building. Calling would do nothing.

                Of course Mike wasn't supposed to be on the roof, but rather inside, sleeping, about to be ready for the day. But he couldn't sleep and the stars were particularly good tonight. The glow from the city was dim against the shine of the stars millions of miles away.

                Mike had quietly slipped from his bed, getting in his shoes without waking the others in his room. He opened the door without it making a sound and pulled it close again after him. He walked around the furniture carefully; the house was dark and he wouldn't dare turn on a light and wake someone.

                He slipped out the door and walked down the hall, hoping no one would pop out of their places, see him and take him back home. He would obviously get into a lot of trouble.

                After climbing the creaky metal stairs, he found the black door on the wall at the end of the hall. The dim light from above was the only light in the darkness.

                Keeping quiet, Mike pulled his sisters bobby pin out of his pocket and picked the lock of the door. It opened easily and cold air rushed in. Mike took a moment before he stepped out and closed the door behind him.

                It wasn't much brighter outside except the "dim light" was that which illuminated the city below.

                There was an overall buzz from the little traffic and electricity running that was music to Mike's ears.

                He didn't know how late, or early, it was but one look up and he could see the stars.

                There was no doubt, something about tonight was special. Usually it's either too hazy because of the smog or the sky's always too bright.

                He cleared a spot for himself where he thought the view was best and lay down. He rested his hands behind his head and looked up again.

                Mike could see every single star. He picked out the Big Dipper; it surprised him he still knew it after ten years. He even thought he saw part of Orion's Belt.

                The stars put him at ease. They took Mike to another world and he forgot about everything.

                His eyes never left the sky. As time went on, he thought he recognized more and more constellations. He counted the shooting stars and wished on all of them.

                Finally his eyes started to feel bevy. It was hard to keep them open and look at the beauty above him. 

                That morning Mike was woken mainly by the pigeons. A flock of them were flying low and squawking.

                Then it was the constant car horns, and start of construction on the buildings next door.

                The city was totally different during the day. The sky was blue dotted with white clouds. All the smog hung in the air, unseen, though you could smell it.

                The cars on the road were barely moving, and releasing an extensive amount of black exhaust.

                From the roof Mike could see everywhere. Off in the distance was the blue shimmering ocean and bight green tree tops at the park. It was the only place in the city without concrete.