Asuhhhhh did you think I disappeared again? NOPE! I'm back and ready boiiiiiiii. Enjoy <3
Genre: Angst
Warnings: SUICIDE TRIGGERING
Words: 1558
-TaylortheDinosaur ^,-,^
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It is the third night. The third and final night shift of this week. Another glance at the digital clock beneath the radio, reading exactly five minutes from when I last looked, 02:23. The wind whistled through my hair from the minor opening of the window and I scratched at my stubbled chin as I stretched. Not only was I working an eight hour night shift, but my partner called in sick and now I'm alone. The wind sighing again through the little gap as it pushed my brunette fluff around.
The road beside me was quiet, a car moving past was less frequent than each time I glanced at the clock. Again, repeating the same pattern I had been doing for the last hour or so, the bright green letters screaming 02:30. I occupied my mind through singing lyrics to a song long forgotten the name of and then I began counting. So much counting. There have been thirteen black cars that have passed in the last eighteen minutes, three of them with more than one person in the car and at least two of those that were Toyota types. More counting. More. More. I'm losing my mind at this point. Darkness creeping in at the sides of my eyes as I lost focus. Rubbing them again to wake myself from my sleep-deprived state.
"Radio, come in. Police Officers in area code 43-MT please respond!" The walkie-talkie stationed beside my heart screamed robotically. I glanced at the nearest sign, Parkinson Junction, 43-MT.
"Over, this is Officer Hanby, within the area, what can I do Amber?" I replied, my hand gripped tightly on the black box, waiting for a reply. Nothing to do for the last hour has hit the final nerve and boredom is becoming a new time to sleep. I need to do something now.
"Brian, head to Salismere Bridge asap, reports of a man standing on the edge, possible jumper!" As soon as I knew the location, my hands gripped the steering wheel and the engine roared to life. I sped down the motorway as fast as I could. 60mph. 70mph. 80mph. Faster and faster. My hands were sore from gripping the steering wheel and my adrenaline pumped in my head. My ears felt cold and my face hot, my hands burning yet my fingers were numb. My body was swirling with fear and adrenaline pumping and mixing together. My heart fit with the sirens as they shouted along the roads and each lane.
My eyes twitched at the clock, 02:43. I'm almost there, two minutes have passed since the radio call. Two minutes I have to be there. Two minutes and I have to make it in time. I have to get there. The sirens blared and my ears went dead for a moment as I pulled up to the side of the bridge. That's when I see him. My fingers numb as I watched him turn to face me.
The man was sitting in an attitude of profound distress beneath a projecting mass of rock. The hands of this man hung limply over his knees, his eyes were red and staring before him, and his face was wet with tears. I could see those gravity-drawn shoulders painting a picture of his heart, as if neither it nor his soul would welcome a beat. I could see in his eyes that his brain had built some new walls with him so lonely on the other side. I could see his arms weak and numb and his fingers impatiently tapping his knees in anxiety and fear.
I walked over quickly, my hands held up in surrender as I cautiously lessened the distance. My heart was louder than the sirens now as I kept both my eyes focused on this man in front of me. His eyes locked on mine as I came closer. And closer.
"Stay back! Go away! I'll jump!" He shouted, yet his voice wavered with sobs. A very broken man in a situation he couldn't get over, so he goes to the extreme. I stopped walking for the moment with my hands still placed in front of me in the air as I answered.
"I'm here to help, do you mind letting me get a little closer to you so I can help you?" I asked gently, stepping forward once more as I spoke.
"No! You'll just try to stop me! I need to jump!" He wavered, edging himself closer to the river below. My heart stopped momentarily or was that my lungs? My mind frazzled like tv static and I automatically froze.
"Wait! Let me talk, please. Just listen to me." I said as calmly as I could even though my bones jittered and my blood frantically pulsated beneath my skin. Goosebumps erupted across my body as my eyes locked on his. Broken, sore and bleeding tears from his dark brown eyes. Eyes like deep wells of compassionate gloom threatening to fall.
He stayed motionless, no response and yet his eyes lingered on mine. I had to save him. I want too. It is my job to save him. It is my responsibility to save him. I have too. I couldn't let him give up. No, it won't happen, not this time...
"Just close your eyes for me. Slowly, carefully shut them. I want you to listen to me and me only. The sun has finally set and the stars are out. Can you picture them? The night sky is full of hidden mystery and scary even with something as beautiful as the stars shining through. Do you like stars, sir?" I asked, fumbling over some words. My feet stayed still but my body felt as if I was stumbling, falling right over the edge. My fingers ached from the coldness of the wind whisking past. That's when I noticed the man shivering with a simple t-shirt on. Guilt flooded through me and as he listened to what I said, intently, I placed a solid foot forward.
"I can see them. I do like stars. Stars are pretty. They don't falter like I do. They are always there." He stated, his eyes squinting shut. He was white as a ghost from the darkness beyond. As if he were glowing already like an angel fallen. He answered my question at least. He is aware. He is aware of my presence. One step forward. Two steps forward.
"You know people are like stars..." I began before his voice interrupted me,
"People can't be like stars. Stars are beautiful. People are cruel, hateful and judgemental. The stars cannot be related to people." He cried, almost laughing incredulously at my statement.
"I believe they are, sir. May I call you by your name?" I asked momentarily, moving closer with every question.
"My name is Brock, not that it matters, but what is your name officer?" He questioned back, his head turning to me. I froze, my hands still raised as the wind whistled in the brief silence.
"My name is Brian. It is very nice to meet you Brock. I understand what you mean by how beautiful stars are. But people can be beautiful too. As strange as it sounds people are like stars. People are like stars in the night sky, all are not equal, but still, everyone shines. I believe people are like stars, cause stars, they got nothing on us. We can travel, we can dance, we can love and we can live the way we want." I could see the confusion in his face and the knotted tension in my eyebrows made my head throb. He shook his head as he gazed back to the sky, his legs dangling over the edge.
"I don't think you understand. The stars are dull when they are compared to you and I. We light up our own lives. We can control what we do. We can laugh all day or suddenly go on holiday. We can believe in something no one else does or scream our love from anywhere we want. And if people don't like it, they can close their eyes, they ignore you as they do when they sleep. They can close their eyes and ignore everything. We are brighter than fireflies. We will light the sky. Our own skies. If you'll give me a chance, we can take them down, count our own stars and start to feel what it truly means to be a real and live in reality." I finished as I grasped his arm with my hand.
I pulled him over the blockade as he fell limply in my arms. Sobbing recklessly as he cried and cried more. His voice like mournful bells crying on the wind. His shirt was drenched with tears, baggy on his thin waist. He shivered uncontrollably as I placed my jacket around him and hugged him close.
"I'm here. You'll be alright. You are safe and sound. I'm here to help you, I'll guide you. I'll be your star till you light up." I spoke softly as I lifted him into the ambulance and followed him to the hospital, waiting and watching out for him the way the stars watch out for me.
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Youtuber One Shots
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