Ticking

One Minute

One Minute

  Minutes. One Minute.

  Anything can happen in a minute. A time bomb can explode, someone could drown. One minute is all it takes for someone to die without air. One minute is enough time for anyone to do anything. And to waste a minute would be a huge waste, because all it would take is one minute to realize the beauty of this world. It would take a minute for me to climb back up to the rooftop.

  I stand there on the rooftop a minute later, my legs unconsciously leading me here. I stare at the stars; I stare at the gleaming buildings that surrounded my office. It’s then you enter the rooftop again behind me, for the second day in a row. You curse under your breath when you see me there.

 You aren’t planning to jump off again are you? You come towards me, frowning.

  I mock glare at you, I’m really touched by your faith in me.

  You roll your eyes. You can’t blame me for thinking that, especially after I stopped you yesterday.

  I look at you, a smile blooming on my lips. I guess I thought through what I had been planning to do.

  Why did you want to jump though? You ask curiously.

  Because I thought there was nothing left to live for? I shrug nonchalantly, looking at the night sky in admiration, hugging my body as the wind whips my hair around.  There were clouds of doubt I my vision before today. It was like a fog blocking out the beautiful things in life. Maybe I’m glad you stopped me, maybe I am.

  You look at me doubtfully. I believe you deserved to have a chance to look at the world from a new point of view. You don’t have to thank me because you don’t seem to be getting to that anytime soon.

  I snort playfully. Then here’s your thank you then. Thanks for saving my life and clearing the fog in my vision.

  I signal to you that I’m ready to get back to work and turn to the staircase off the rooftop.

  There was actually something you could have lived for. Your voice stops me in my footsteps. I look at you questioningly. What exactly could I have lived for while being clouded by a fog of depression?

  You could have lived for yourself, you know.

  I smile at your words, I nodded.