My Psychiatrist III

Part 8

It's 11:30 PM.

Time to go.

It's been silent downstairs for more than an hour. My parents sleep downstairs, and I'm not entirely used to the sounds of this house yet, but I reckon they've gone to bed. I hope so.

Ashton has been silent since we texted this afternoon.

I just hope he's outside and that it all goes to plan. And that the roof outside of my bedroom window isn't too high to jump off.

I go to the toilet, outside of my room, on the other side of the corridor. The lights are out downstairs. I pop the light on in the bathroom, seeing myself in the mirror. A little pale, my brown hair curly and a little unruly, my grey shirt a little dingy from having worn it in bed almost the whole day.

When I'm done, I quickly put on a new, colourful shirt, stuff a backpack I found in my room - I assume it is mine - with some clothes from my closet and some toiletry. I should be fine. I toss my wallet and phone on top and close the army-green backpack and swing it over my shoulder. Should be good.

I open the window, carefully, to make sure there are no noises to be heard; but the house remains dark and silent. I close the window behind me, until it almost closes - just in case I have to get back inside tonight or tomorrow morning. I hope not.

The roof is almost flat, so it's easy to walk on. I stand and wait for a second, looking down on the street. But Ashton is nowhere to be seen. Maybe he just hasn't arrived yet.

When I look over the edge of the roof, I see how big the drop is. Maybe this wasn't the best option of all, considering my brain damage my doctor and nurses told me about in the hospital last week. The right side of the house has a similar drop, but has the perfect solution for me to get up and down on and off the roof; someone has made a special fence for climbing plants to grow on and it's easy for me to put my feet in the small squares and climb down.

I throw my backpack down first, it making a soft 'pouf' when it lands on the ground. I wait and listen to the sounds coming from the house, hoping I didn't wake anyone up. But it remains silent. Good.

I'm standing next to my backpack in just a matter of seconds. Awesome.

The road is empty. There are some extra cars parked further down the street, and most of the houses are dark. The only sounds that can be heard are the aircon's blowing and the only light that can be seen are the street lanterns. Ashton still isn't there.

I decide I'll head in the direction of the closest busstop, maybe I'll meet him halfway or so. Just when I begin to walk, I hear a soft whistle. I turn around, but see no one behind me. I continue walking. The soft whistle again.

I look to my left, at my neighbours house. Oh my god. Is that Ashton? What is he doing up there??

I let out a chuckle before looking around me. No one is to be seen. The street is silent. Quiet. Empty. Dark.

I slowly walk to my neighbours house, shooting a quick look at my house which is next to it. It's still dark. I continue walking to Ashton's direction.
'What are you doing up there?' I whisper.
He just smiles down at me as an answer, followed by a quick wave. 'How did you even manage to get up there?' I laugh.
He shrugs his shoulders as he stands up and walks to the edge of the roof. 'Next time you don't need to place yourself that accurately in my situation,' I mumble. Why on earth did he climb up on my neighbours' house's roof? 

'There's nothing wrong with a little adventure,' is all he says before kneeling down at the left side of the roof. He faces towards the house, grabs the gutter and climbs down the brick house carefully.
How does he make it look so effortless?