Fire Escape | l.h

no. 2

It was dark, and extremely cold. The crisp, cool January air made me shiver. I checked my phone for the time. 9pm. Calum's party was starting now.

Bastard.

I looked over the railing, and looked at the lights of traffic, street lamps, and buildings. It looked like fireflies against a black sheet of night. It was beautiful.

I hoisted myself up onto the black, swirled railing, looking one last time at my dark room. From now on, my parents would open that door to find it empty inside. That's when the fear struck me.

I wasn't afraid of dying, no. I was afraid that nobody would care that I did die. I was afraid my parents wouldn't morn over me, and that they'd actually be happier with me gone. But then again, isn't that partially the reason I'm doing this?

I kept that thought in my mind as I swung my legs over, so that I was in a sitting position.

"You know, you might not wanna do that."

I whipped my head around to see a girl looking down at me from one floor up.

"You might fall." she smirked.

I laughed.

"That's kind of the point."

She smiled. She had long, dark brown, wavy hair that was pulled into a ponytail. Her eyes were a striking green, and she had lips that were the most beautiful shade of pink.

She climbed down the small ladder leading to my floor, and walked over to me. I then noticed her outfit. A white Coldplay shirt with no sleeves, dark skinny jeans, and black combat boots.

"It's awfully cold. You must be freezing." I said.

"I could say the same for you," I looked down at my black tank top, ripped jeans, and boots. "but you know what warms me up?"

I shook my head.

"A good smoke. Want one?"

I cautiously lifted an eyebrow.

"They Lucky Strikes?"

She gave me a devious grin.

"That's all I buy."

She took one out and lit it. I looked at her.

"What? If you want yours you have to come get it."

I sighed.

"Alas, I cannot. I must do this." I said.

Her smile turned into a frown. I frowned back.

"Do you wanna talk first? Maybe tell me about it?"

I had never told anyone how I was feeling about anything. They never asked, so I never shared. As if reading my mind, she said,

"Have you ever told anyone?"

"It's just a lot of pain." I dismissed.

She laughed.

"What's your name?"

I was taken aback by this.

"Um, Luke Hemmings."

"Well Luke, everyone has pain in their life. Pain that rips them apart. But that's apart of life! You have to deal with it! Pain makes you notice the little things. If life was all rainbows and smiles, we'd be caught up in our own bliss to notice when great things happen. It gives you meaning."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Listen to me. It gets better Luke. I know it does. Just please come back over here."