-5-

Jerome

I was probably driving faster than the prescribed speed limit. I did not care though, I was anxious to reach home. I was beyond angry. My company was in serious jeopardy.

I don't particularly enjoy speeding but it helps me de-stress. I was driving on the city bridge, it is my favourite place in times like these; an empty road which calls for reckless driving.

It was unusually barren today. Where were all the vehicles? I decided to slow down, taking in the symmetrical formations of the street lights which divided the road into two. The symmetry was a great comfort to my turmoil, I could stare at it forever. And I would have if it wasn't for a figure I saw standing near the edge. Normally I would just drove past it and I was planning to do exactly that when something caught my eye.

The figure was wearing my company's t-shirt!

I decided to slow the car and carefully drive near it. It was a woman, her hair flowed freely but she stood static. I couldn't see her face, all I could see was my company's logo, using red with black was certainly a good decision.

I wonder whoever she is, what was she doing here at this hour, standing near the edge. Did her car break down? I couldn't see any car standing nearby though. It was certainly not safe in any case.

I deliberated if I should approach her. I am not really known to be very compassionate nor am I into meddling with other people's affairs. But I felt it was my responsibility to approach this woman and ask her if she needed help. She was certainly an employee, if not, definitely a family member of one.

I stopped the car and slowly walked towards her. The nearer I went, the more I sensed something was wrong. My instincts don't normally betray me but I hope they do this time.

I reached her, stopping at a respectful distance. I could see her face clearly now. She was definitely an employee. She was that temp Aiden keeps nagging at me to promote. I tried remembering her name but my memory failed me miserably.

Maybe for the first time in life, I regret not paying attention to Aiden.

You are going to regret a lot of things, starting now.

I took her appearance in. I never really had the chance to interact with her. She was foreign to me.

She was looking straight, staring intently at the dim lights of the harbor on the other side of the city. The water below the bridge flowed peacefully, unaware of the ripple that girl could create if she moved forward one step. She was standing dangerously close to the edge. The municipality should have repaired that stupid railing, idiots only remake already made roads when elections are near.

It was not the time to curse elections or blame the government, I reminded myself. Criticism can wait.

I was very close to her now though she didn't notice. She just stood there as motionless as a sculpture worked upon by a skilled sculptor. I wasn't sure what to say to her and how. She was so close to the edge I didn't want to startle her.

"Hey, are you okay?" I asked in a low voice. She didn't say anything, point-blank ignored me. That was annoying.

"Miss, what are you doing here?" I asked louder this time, using my usual work tone.

"I'm planning to jump off this bridge." Now, that startled me.

Was she being sarcastic with me? I couldn't tell. If yes, she had chosen a really wrong time.

"Humorous. Now, what are you really doing here?" I asked again. I wanted to know what she was doing here. It is none of my business of course but I was curious.

"I'm going to jump off this Bridge." She nodded probably to herself and suddenly took a step forward.

She was going to fall off that bridge, straight into the water and she would have, only if I wouldn't have caught her in time. She was certainly not being sarcastic before.

"Are you insane?" I yelled at her, she could have died, which is what she probably wanted. She opened her mouth but before any words could come out, she fainted in my arms. I sighed deeply, I would have face-palmed myself if my hands weren't so full.

You will get to do that later, on various occasions, a lot.