『 Cessation 』|~Shinji Hirako~|

Part 1 - Let Go

8 months... 243 days... Hard to believe that was all it took for my (Y/A) years of life to come crumbling down like the pillars of Rome... So many years alive, and such a short amount of time for it all to fall apart. It all happened in a snowball like effect. I was originally having trouble with my rent after having my wage cut dramatically, so I worked extra hours to try and make it up; only to find out those arrogant bastards wouldn't pay me for it. I could only be paid my contracted hours. I attempted to receive benefits but was classed unfit for them since I still worked 20 hours a week despite my minimum wage. Because of this I lost my home, and because I lost my home it affected my mentality; thus losing my job. I tried to get help from mother, but she has always favored my older sister, she was the golden child and could do no wrong. After a big fight with her husband she took the spare room at our mother's. I tried to explain my situation, but she never wanted to hear what I had to say...So she never knew. I lived in a sleeping bag on the streets, fighting for survival for too long; which led me here. Tuesday morning; 2am... on the roof of a corporation building. I glanced over the metal netting at the lights and few people wandering below. It was quiet up here, almost peaceful despite the cold; almost blistering. A given really, considering it was the middle of November. I lean my palms onto the cold net, the contact sending chills down my spine. I had taken more than I can - not only physically but mentally handle. And there's just no coming back from this. I tried to look for another job, but no one will hire a woman with no home address... as for that... all the hostels are taken up; a place for travelers and the homeless in this time of year. Funny, as I'm one of them now. I even tried to get a loan but no one will give me a second look when they saw my circumstance. It's not like I haven't tried. I'm out of options... I hoisted my leg over the metal barrier, my second one following shortly after as I held onto the hoops for support. I extended my elbows, pushing my body out at an angle and giving me one last good look at the intimidating ground below... It seemed higher up all of a sudden.

"What a waste..."

I blinked at the foreign voice, turning my head instantly to meet the eyes of a man I didn't know. I stared at him idly as he closed his eyes for a second, opening them a few moments after with a smirk.

"Don't look so surprised (Y/N). I've been standing here a while."

He knew my name? A regular customer at the café I suppose... I didn't answer him, just continued to stare, gripping harder onto the wire netting that held me onto this world. With my moral in mind I turned away from him, not interested in what this stranger had to say or offer. Merely a man on his break from this graveyard shift, walking in on an unexpected scene and thinking he's going to do the right thing.

"What's with that scowl? And suddenly so quiet eh? You never seemed that way at work. Quite a pleasant and chatty little waitress if I do say so myself. But I guess everyone puts on a front when around strangers. Or is it this that's the front?"

His voice sounded closer and I lifted my head to the raven sky above, taking in the few stars that were visible in this artificially lighted town. So he did know me from the café. Must be an occasional customer that I didn't recognize... And with that thought gone... I let go.

~~~

I felt myself awakening, my mind in a mild haze as one gets when they first arise to the day. My body felt warm, save from my nose that held a bitter cold at it's tip. I lifted my hand from the covers, giving it a firm rub in order to get it to temperature with the rest of my body. Yes... that's better...

"Good, you're up."

A voice? I don't remember falling asleep near other people... in fact... I don't remember situating my sleeping bag and sleeping at all... I blinked my eyes open, removing the crust that layered them from my vision. I was in a room. A four walled room... I continued to stare at the ceiling, unable to bring my body to move. What happened? How did I get here?