Ten Stories Up

1 - you

I like sitting on the roof. The very edge was the best. Then you could feel vertigo churn up your center as your feet dangle off the edge. I don't know why I'm here.

Liar

I don't know why I chose this building, ten stories high.

Liar

I didn't want to do it just yet though. The sun was going down over the city. The skyline was unobstructed from my vantage point. I would watch this first.

I pulled my leg up from dangling over the edge. My eyes didn't move from the light show in front of me. I wanted to memorize every color of this sunset. I wanted to remember the peace that twirled through my stomach. I let out a deep breath and closed my eyes, reveling in the quiet dark. I had come across one of those strange phenomena. The ones that are only spectacular in the city. The air was quiet and there wasn't a person walking on the street. I was truly alone.

That is until, of course, the door behind my banged open loudly.

"Oh... Didn't realize there was anyone up here."

The girl on the roof started, causing the man to tense up.

"Jesus... Don't scare a girl like that."

"Sorry. Didn't realize someone had found my favorite brooding spot."

I took the man in. He was tall, with longish black hair, pulled into a bun. He was wearing loose black clothes with a long, thin scarf wrapped around his neck multiple times. A pair of strange goggles were pushed onto his forehead. I felt the familiar sense of dread squeeze my chest. People usually had that effect on me. My eyes returned to the skyline, disregarding the man.

That is until he plopped down beside me.

"Excuse me?"

"I said this is my favorite brooding roof and you are sitting in the best spot."

"Oh." I scooted a bit to the left. It was just as much to give him space as to get away from the stranger.

"So, what are you doing up here?" I glanced over at the man again, seeing his face for the first time. In one word, he looked tired, as in worn out. He didn't look tired. What he needed was a good vacation. He wasn't like me.

He glanced at me, questioning. I realized I hadn't replied.

"Brooding."

Liar

The answer startled a breath out of him, as well as a small laugh.

"Mind if I joined you?"

"Didn't you know brooding is a solo activity?"

"Well, I'll brood alone then."

I expected him to leave. He just leaned against his hands and stared out at the horizon. "Weren't you going to go brood alone.?"

"I am. There just happens to be someone else on my brooding roof."

"Oh." I started to get up.

"Guess we'll have to brood alone next to each other."

I started again. He didn't want me to leave him alone. Oh. He probably didn't know who I was. Few people did around here. I couldn't make myself leave the peace offering. "Yea, ok."

As I pondered it, I realized what this man was. My chest deflated at the thought. "So. What is a pro hero doing on a roof at dusk?" The sun had set by now.

The man sensed the change in the mood. He could feel the shards of the tranquility that had just broken. He sighed. "I'm on my break."

Liar

"Alright."

If he was telling the truth, he would leave soon. Good. Then I could do what I came here to do. I could do what the world told me I deserved. So, I waited, enjoying the cool night air.

And waited.

And waited

And waited

After three hours, he was still there, staring out into space as if he could see the entire universe. He seemed very comfortable. I was getting colder and colder. Soon I was too cold to think straight. I wouldn't win this game of chicken. I would just have to come back or find another building.

I tipped my self backward. The action was glaring in the stillness of the rooftop.The hero moved so fast I didn't even see him properly until I was wrapped in his arms. He froze, realizing what I had done.

Got ya

I had gone the other way then what he had expected. My suspicions were confirmed. I plastered a smile on my face. "Whoa there. "

He set me down. "Sorry."

"No worries. I was just getting home. I've done enough brooding for now."

"Oh."

"I hope your break was nice."

"It was."

The air was thick with awkwardness. The man spoke up before I could. He scratched the back of his head and asked tentatively. "You want to go get some coffee? You look cold."

"No, I'm good."

"Oh, ok."

"I guess I'll see you."

I was down the stairs before he could respond. No, I didn't want to get coffee. He had just wasted a whole afternoon with me as if I were a child. I didn't want to be any more bother. He could have saved someone today. Someone who deserved to be saved. Someone who wanted to be saved.

Someone unlike me.