Ending Amanda

3

"You know, I actually tried to kill myself once." the man said.

I turn to him, a bit pissed and a bit shocked "I'm sorry but I really don't know how to respond to that."

Does he think that helps me in any way? I thought. I almost got up and left when he continued his story.

"I had swallowed the pills and as I was waiting to die, I realized that all of my problems were fixable." He said staring ahead at the water. "I know this probably sounds corny, but it made me want to help others find a way to fix these problems instead of.. you know. I went to school after that and now I've been a therapist for a few years."

I still had no idea what to say "That's really... nice" I replied. I decided I still should probably leave and started gathering my things.

"Thank you so much" I said, hoping he would not try to talk to me any further.

He grabbed my wrist, gently. I pulled myself out of his grasp.

He was staring into my eyes when he asked, "Why were you on this bridge?"

Mother was in the kitchen, Father still at work. A young boy, who was very involved in a video game, stood on the couch shouting at the T.V.

"Jacob, honey please keep it down" the mother says obviously a bit stressed.

The Diaz home was full of noise this night. Dishes clanging in the kitchen, Jacob yelling at his game. Though you couldn't hear it, Amanda sobbed in her room.

Amanda walks into the kitchen, tear stained and sniffling. Her hair was short again and her mother was still not happy about it. She typically wore clothes that were given to her by either her brother or a male friend.

"This again?" Her mother almost shouts at her "Tonight is not the night, Amanda. Your father is working late and I've burnt the first dinner."

She burst into tears after her mother said Amanda.

"Jesus Christ." her mother sighed rubbing her temple "Just.. please go into the living room or something. I really cannot do this right now."

Amanda's father walked into the house and saw his child obviously upset. He dropped his stuff and sat with her.

"Feeling down, kiddo?" he asked while brushing her hair with his fingers.

She nodded and shoved her face into his shoulder to cry.

"Anthony!" his wife yelled from the kitchen "could I get some help with dinner?!"

A hushed argument could be heard from the kitchen when he pokes his head through the doorway.

"How's pizza sounds guys?"