by Casalan

Created on: February 21, 2009

The car stopped and I walked to the edge.

The black water below glistened as if it were full of crystals.

I imagined hitting the water and the warm breath escaping my lungs.

A man appeared beside me leaning on the bridges railing.

He desperately spoke, "I need your help."

Why, what is wrong?

"I just lost my job, and last week my wife left me."

I'd love to help but what can I do?

"I need you..."

You need me to what?

"My life is over I have nothing left."

What can I do to help you?

"I need you to push me."

...

"I can't do it myself."

I can't do that it's murder.

The man paced along the railing with his hands on his head.

"Buddy, look I'll give you whatever money I have."

No deal, no way. Why don't we go talk about it.

"I've told you everything, I have no future, I'm better off dead."

C'mon, no one is better off dead, it's not that bad.

You're a good looking guy, a smart looking guy.

Step back from the railing and I'll help you find a new job.

The man lifted one leg over the railing and then the other,

sitting and facing out to sea.

...

What is your name?

"It doesn't matter."

It does to me.

"Josh, it's Josh."

Huh, that's my name too.

The man twisted his body around and faced me.

"Really, your named Josh too."

Yeah.

So how about it, I'll buy you a drink and we'll talk about it.

...

The man pushed himself off the railing and onto the road.

"You know you really messed up my plans for the night."

Haha, I'm glad I did.

We entered the nearest pub, I bought two beers and we sat down.

I started sipping my beer and the man couldn't stop smiling.

It's nice to see that your mood has changed so much Josh.

"Yes it has, thanks for the beer."

We sipped our beers both smiling at each-other.

So why were you out tonight on the bridge?

...

The man just sat sipping his beer and smiling at me.

Hey Josh, what made you feel so desperate that you were going to jump over the edge.

"Oh I was never going to jump buddy."

What?

What about your job and wife, did you lie to me?

"No, I didn't lie, I really have lost my job and my wife left me last week."

The man sips his beer.

So If you weren't going to jump why were you there?

...

"I was driving along feeling sorry for myself when I saw you stop your car and walk to the edge."

"I know that no matter how bad my life gets I was never going to kill myself."

"So I wondered why you were going to kill yourself and decided to pull over to help talk you out of it."

"I don't know you Josh, but I would never let anyone kill themselves If I can help them."

"Your life is precious to me and I don't even know you."

"Even though I lied about jumping off the bridge you still talked me out of it."

"You value my life more than your own and you don't even know me."

"Selfless acts of kindness are what this life is all about."

"If you ever doubted yourself in the past and ever doubt yourself from this day forward."

"Remember that tonight you saved two lives, my life, and your own."

Learn more about this author, Casalan.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.