Another Reason To Live (Watty Awards 2014)

Chapter 2

Chapter 2:

I woke up with an aching feeling in my neck and back, but I guess sleeping on the roof of my school wasn't exactly a brilliant idea. I opened my eyes and looked up to the sky, which was littered with dark clouds that threatened to drop rain. Softly groaning, I rolled onto my side to see Gerard laying about a foot and a half away, looking at me. I was pretty surprised to see him - I thought he would've left during the night.  

"Hey," he mumbled, his voice sounding gruff from just waking up.

I sat up and looked at him better. Memories of last night finally flooded my mind and I remembered that he stopped me from ending my depression and feeling happy for once. He's making me live through it all, feeling the pain that comes with it. And for what benefit? I met him only last night, he isn't an important figure in my life and I'm not one in his.  

But he was also the only person that I felt safe enough with to pour my heart out and tell the sad tale that I call my life.  

I scrunched my face as I realized why I was here in the first place, so I stood up and stretched. "Why are we still on this damn roof?" I asked as I ran a hand through my bright red hair, observing world around me.

The people below on the streets were carrying on with their lives, completely unaware that I stared death in the face the night before. They had no idea what I felt as I stood on the edge of the roof, ready to die and end everything. But I guess ignorance is bliss.  

"We talked for a while and then you laid down and fell asleep. I didn't want to wake you. I also don't know where you live, so I felt responsible for you," he explained, standing up and brushing off his black jeans.  

I felt puzzled by his response. He could've easily left me with the police that were there. "Why did you really stay?" I asked quietly.  

A faint smile flashed across his face, but it disappeared and he turned to me, meeting my gaze with his beautiful eyes. "I wanted to." 

I put my hands in the front pocket of my hoodie as a breeze swept through the air, making me shiver. "Was it out of guilt? Because I don't need sympathy, Gerard. I need peace and a way out of my pain, and last night would've done the trick. But now, thanks to you, I have to keep living through it all," I snapped. I didn't mean to, but the lack of sleep was making me irritable. He seemed unfazed by it, though.  

He looked at his feet and leisurely kicked a rock forward with his foot before his gaze travelled back up to me. Starting with a sigh, he finally spoke.  

"I know that you're going through a hard time in your life. I've been there before, I really have. But throwing yourself off of the edge of a roof isn't the magic answer to your problems," he explained in a steady tone. After pausing for a moment, he added, "I stayed because you fascinate me, Scarlette. Although your life story isn't exactly a fairy tale where everyone rides into the sunset at the end, you've still managed to capture my attention in a few short hours to the point where I don't want you to die."  

I didn't respond right away to his explanation. The fact that he was that worried about me and willing to help me left me temporarily speechless. Less than twenty-four hours ago, this man didn't even know who I was. Now, after an unintended sleepover on the roof of my school, he refused to give up on me.  

"I feel like we've been friends for forever. That's why I didn't want to leave, I guess. I couldn't live with myself if you still ended your life, even after talking to you. That's why I said I would follow you off of the roof," he continued, looking at me sincerely. I averted my eyes from his gaze and looked at the edge of the roof, where I stood only hours before. It felt like it was days ago, rather than yesterday.