She was a product of a neglected childhood, of people who needed her then discarded her after use, of situations where she was always the one blamed for things beyond her control. When she entered the business, she knew that she somehow was encouraging being hurt... the feeling of pain... of not being wanted enough... The superficial smiles and words proferred to her by adoring fans and colleagues would somehow just bounce off her, not reaching her heart. Because she knew. She knew that her heart was hollow, beating only for survival... nothing else.
She was smiling benevolently at a party in her honor that cold Christmas eve. Suddenly, as if the party was exhausting her, she turned to leave. Not wanting to go home, knowing fully that nobody would be waiting in her big yet lonely apartment, she decided to head up to the rooftop. Walking up the stairs, taking each step at a time, she decides to commit suicide. With each heavy step, feelings of loneliness envelope her, furthering her determination to jump off the rails the very night when she was awarded best newcomer in the business. She did not feel satisfaction with mere words... a plaque... nothing. It was as if a void, a chasm, was opening right in front of her, threatening to envelope her in darkness with each step she took nearing the door to the rooftop. She opened the door. That was when the world stopped.
He was angelic; tall, with tousled dark raven locks that brushed his collar, a serene expression gracing his face. It was as if the wind was purposely wafting around his face to make him look more and more not from this world. But there was something wrong with this angelic-looking man, she thought, as though he was not an angel of the light. No, it would not fit him at all. He was an angel of the night, she thought, totally forgetting all about her plan to jump from the top of that tower. She looked again, then noticed with alarm that he was standing way to close to the edge. She ran to him and reached out her hand to him.
He looked at the hand of the angel facing him. She looked radiant. He recognized her from the party below. And yet he did not deign to go inside, though he was invited since he was the son of the owner of the agency. He looked at her offered hand and hesitated to touch it, thinking he could taint her by just holding it. She smiled at his hesitation.
"You truly do not want to do this tonight, do you?"
"Do you not recognize me?"
"No."
He was aghast. He thought that the extent of his power would have been known to all of the people within the agency. Somehow, that was not the case with this lady. She was a newcomer, he thought, giving the girl allowances for not knowing. Girl, he sighed. He was not much older than her, it seemed to him. Possibly not more than five years older at maximum. And yet, he felt as though he was an old guy, aging with each passing minute he stayed in his father's old office. The girl spoke again, her wonderfully musical voice lilting with each word.
"Hold my hand and try to cross the railing... Come here where it's safer..."
"Why should I do that when, if I am correct, you yourself was about to do the same thing I want to do now?"
Her temper flared to unbearable temperatures. The tension she released was enough for him to even imagine laughably, at that moment, that her aura was a great ball of fire. She asked herself the same thing. Why would he know about something like that? But, she thought, was she so open that he could guess what she had planned. She got angry once again. Why was he refusing help, anyway?
"Why won't you just take my hand?"
"Because I'm tired of living like this, just following HIS footsteps and not being able to create a masterpiece because I am stuck in a four-walled container! Aren't you tired as well that's why you came up here?"
"Who the hell are you talking about? And anyway, if you're tired of your job, then just quit!"
"Damn you, do you not know that there is no one who could replace me if I quit my job? I was trained since I was born to take this job and live with it for the rest of my life!"
"Then train someone to replace you until such time, if ever, that you would like to take up whatever job you have right now once again."
"You say it so simply. Yet, let me ask you, why are you so intent on helping me?
"I realized that my life, and yours as well, would be such a waste if we end it here... now... in this cold and lonely tower. I figured that if we could help each other... that is... find solutions to our problems... maybe they won't be so heavy... I just wanted someone to talk to... And seeing you here made me think twice about ending my life."
And, as he looked at her eyes, he saw clarity for once that maybe, just maybe, this girl was talking about something possible. Something miraculous even. That he might just be able to pursue his dream. And as he reached for her hand, he slipped.
Time seemed suspended for a thousand seconds.
And then, a miracle.
She had reached out and grabbed his hand preventing his fall to his demise. With her feeble strength, she pulled him to safety. After a few breathless minutes had passed, they looked at each other, and just simply laughed.
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