Patience

One

I listened to the noisy traffic below me and lit a cigarette. I watched the cars and trucks speed past as I blew smoke out of my mouth. I stepped up onto the railing so I was up higher. All it would take now is a small gust of wind or a slight push and down I would go. It would be a shame if I were to just slip and fall.

I hooked my left arm around one of the slanted beams that held the bridge up and held the cigarette in my right hand.  A breeze blew my hair out of my face and I looked down at my scuffed up Chuck Taylors and imagined them being bright red high heels instead. Oh, to be able to afford such a thing, or even have a place to wear them, or even a person to wear them with.

I shivered at that thought.

I put out my cigarette and gripped the beam with my other arm. I closed my eyes. No more college, I dropped out. I brought my hand to my cheek and felt the tender bruise my ex boyfriend had given me tonight. No more boyfriend, I dumped him. Lastly, the small job I did have at a restaurant, I somehow got laid off and had to give up my apartment because now I can't afford it.

I opened my eyes and felt tears running down my cheeks. This was it. I am going to jump. For real, this time. It's why I came here and nothing's going to stop me, so I let go of the beam and stood on the railing, careful not to lose my balance. Not yet.

"Careful, sweetheart, you might hurt yourself," A deep voice came from behind, startling me. I wrapped my arm around the beam again and turned my head. I saw a man with long hair holding a cigarette, walking toward me.

"Why are you here? Y-you're not supposed to be here," I stuttered at him, looking back down at the traffic.

The mysterious man flicked his cigarette aside. "If I'm not supposed to be here then you probably aren't either," He said with a shrug.

I shook my head. "I came here to be alone, so I'd like it if you would leave," I said.

"Well, maybe I also came here to be alone, too. I think you should step down from there and leave," He said.

"You can't make me do anything," I told him.

"Oh, really? I can't?" He asked, grabbing my legs and prying me off of the beam. He put me back down on the bridge and I pushed him away from me.

"Who the hell are you?" I demanded, rubbing my watery eyes and squinting at him to see if I can see his face better in the dark. Maybe I was meant to be saved tonight, but I sure as hell didn't want to be.

"Your new hero," He replied with obvious sarcasm, and I thought I could almost make out a smirk, "Now, tell me doll, what's a pretty young lady like you doing standing on the railing of a bridge all alone on a Friday night?"

I crossed my arms and rolled my eyes. "It's none of your business," I told him.

"Sassy, eh?" He asked, "You know, I'm not leaving until I know what you're doing and until I know for sure that you have a place to stay tonight. Maybe even someone to look after ya."

I just looked at him, saying nothing. I clenched my jaw and my arms stayed crossed in defense. I stayed close to myself, keeping myself closed off from this stranger. Who was this man, and why did he seem to care?

"You do have a place to stay, right?" He asked. The tone of his voice changed a bit, dropping the sarcasm and sounding somewhat concerned.

"Why does it matter to you?" I snapped at him.

"Because I'm not about to let a pretty young lady who has a whole life ahead of her commit suicide right in front of me. Not only should you think of yourself and your future children, but also think about the nasty mess you'll leave down there in front of all those innocent people," He said, "You think it's all about you, but there are other people involved."

"How do you know I was about to commit suicide? You don't know if that's what I was about to do," I told him.

"You're right, I don't know, but when someone stands on the railing of a bridge like that, crying, I can't help but make assumptions," He said.

I just shook my head. Who was this guy and what did he want? Why was he so interested and why did he care so much? At this point, I should be leaving, but something in my mind was telling me to stay. Was I just waiting for him to leave so I could throw myself off the side of the bridge, or did I actually like that someone cared.

"How old are you, anyway, doll?" He asked.

"Twenty-two, and I'm leaving," I told him. I started to walk past him, but he grabbed my arm.

"Okay, okay, but before you leave please tell me that you have a place to stay," He said.

I opened my mouth to say something, but just shook my head. It's not his business where I go, or what I do. He doesn't know me. I tried to keep walking, but he stopped me.

"Well?" He asked.

"I'll find somewhere. I always do," I said, throwing my arms up in defense.

"Well you just have," He told me. I thought that I might've seen him wink, but I couldn't tell in the darkness. His face was only vaguely lit by the headlights of the cars passing underneath our feet.

"I'm not going with you, if that's what you're getting at," I stated plainly. I was going to stand my ground. I don't need help, I'm alright.

"Well, why not?" He asked.

"Because I don't know who you are!" I yelled, my voice echoing, bouncing on and off the railing of the truss bridge.

"Okay, fair. I'm Axl," He said, holding out his hand for me to shake it.

I hesitated. "Lucy," I said, ignoring his hand.

"Lucy, what a pretty name," He said, pulling his hand back in and placing it in his pocket. He started to make up a little song using my name.

I turned and started to walk away, but Axl followed me. He whistled and sang in a melody that didn't make sense, with lyrics that absolutely did not rhyme, "Lucy, Lucy, what a lovely name. Lucy, Lucy, you should come stay at my apartment tonight."

"That didn't even rhyme," I told him, although Axl wasn't a bad singer.

"It doesn't have to."

We reached the end of the bridge and we were about to walk opposite ways to get down off of the hill. I began to part some of the brush so I could just get away and find somewhere else to be alone, but Axl's voice stopped me once again.

"So, are you going your own way or coming with me?" He asked me.

"I don't have anything I can give you, and I'm not in the mood for doing.. stuff" I told him.

"You don't have to have anything," He said, "or to do anything for me. I'm offering out of pure kindness."

"I mean, I am seriously broke. I have no money and all of my belongings are at my ex boyfriend's," I told him.

"That's okay. I've got you for now, lovely Lucy," He told me, placing a hand on my shoulder. I felt a warm feeling in my chest. I guess that was my new nickname.

I was giving in. "A-are you sure?" I asked.

"I knew you wouldn't say no," He remarked.

"Only because I don't feel like sleeping outside tonight," I informed him.

"Uh huh. Sure," He said and I followed him.