Lightning cracked over head, illuminating the old bridge momentarily in a blaze of light. Thunder then shook it, like a battle cry stifling it's opponents hopes.
The cold wind froze James's wet face. Rain and wind coalesced in an icy mess, softly delivering a crisp blow of chill to his spine. The rain didn't make him feel alive or melancholy or even sad; it felt distant, even though it was clinging to his face. It felt as though he was watching his own life from a window looking in, unable to touch or feel anything. Damp brown hair stuck to his forehead, the veins visible underneath his translucent skin. Night was growing old and a dark yellow street lamp was the only thing illuminating the bridge. It cast lime shadows, moving and falling as though it were candlelight. Water pooled in every crevice of cloth that met his skin; in his lower back, beneath his groin, around the loose jeans surrounding his ankles. The moonlight was weak; he almost floated in it, as if a disappearing apparition. But his inside was coal; nothing close to floating. He would sink. His sins would weigh him down.
"I'm going to do it," he convinced himself. "It's not worth it anymore."
Patty approached the bridge. No one was around. The rain was deafening, but only silence reached her head. "It's over," she whispered.
"It's all over."
She glanced a look over the bridge, it was a fall greater than lucifer's. Recollecting herself with a deep sigh, she slipped off one boot, then the other. Her dry feet now collected water in every pore and the cold attacked it viciously. She hovered her boots over the edge of the bridge for a second, before letting go.
A couple of seconds passed before a loud crash was heard beneath her.
"What the hell was that?", James spun around to see a hooded figure opposite him on the bridge. He jogged over, his feet splashing in the growing pools of water. He approached the slender figure with caution, but a sense of familiarity hit him like a wall.
It was Patty.
"Patty? What are you doing here?" James had to yell, just to be audible over the thundering rain.
"I'm standing at the edge of a bridge and I just threw my shoes over the edge... What do you think I'm doing here ?", Patty was slightly annoyed by this interruption, but mostly relief flooded her chest. Did she really want to do this ? Even she didn't know.
"I can see what you're doing, but why ?" James had known Patty for a long time, it was a small town and even smaller school, so people knew each other. She never seemed like the suicide type to him; she was the popular girl, daughter of the town pastor, captain of the netball team and god knows how many clubs.
"James..." Patty paused, unsure how to continue. "I'm pregnant"
James felt rage build up inside him. "So you would just kill yourself?". He had a reason. Patty had an excuse. "You have a rich family, caring friends, and you even got a scholarship into Yale". Patty's life was set, meanwhile James was set to be a nobody.
Patty paused, trying to process this. Was she wrong in doing this? No. Who was James to make her question her decisions?
"Why are you here, James?"
"I thought it was a good night to have a walk and you're lucky that I did." James lied.
"Yeah, sure, lovely night for a walk, huh?" Lightening momentarily light up the sky as if to prove Patty's point. The thunder then hammered home it home.
He was caught.
"Fine. I was here to do the same thing you are." James felt a heavy weight, he didn't even know was there, lift off him.
"Do I even have to ask? Why?"
"I cheated on Rachel", James spat. He had nothing to hide anymore. He had nothing to lose.
"Really James? You're gonna die for a girl ?" Patty knew young love was stupid, she knew that too well, but she never knew it was this stupid.
"Not just that." James had had everything in his life fall apart one thing after another. "This morning I got my college applications back. I didn't get into anything. Not even Community. My parents will kill me, I have nothing left to lose." James felt a tear well up in his eye thinking about his parents.
"James I know your parents. They won't disown you, they love you. My parents meanwhile will legally put me up for adoption. You think my dad would tolerate his good Christian daughter getting pregnant before marriage? I will be burnt at the stake"
"Patty you have friends that love you, that care about you. I will have nothing once everyone finds out what I di-"
"You will have your family. You can apply again for college next year. My life is ruined and my family hates me." Patty felt like screaming at James. He would be wasting his life away for nothing.
"Patty, your father never cared about you. You shouldn't care what he says, just do want you want. You can still be happy."
"So can you"
Patty and James stared at each, both realising what they would be giving up.
Chances.
They shared the look with each other for what seemed like an eternity. Both knew neither was going anywhere tonight. They may not have peace, but the battle was over; the war had just begun. Their unspoken vow was interrupted by beams of light bursting from the trees surrounding the river, it glistened over the river, melting the coldness of the slowing rain. The river bristled with light, orange and purple, like a drop of fresh water paint on wet canvas, slowly seeping further and gaining momentum. They both gazed over at dawn.
The rain had died yet, so a small, but vivid arch of colour was cast over the dark clouds.
Maybe things would clear up.
