Chapter 8. The Death Day

I stood on the edge of the secluded bridge, the distant hum of traffic on the highway outside town barely audible. The moon cast a cold, silver light on the waters below. I took a deep breath, ready to step off the edge, when a voice interrupted my thoughts.

Startled, I grabbed the rough pillar beside me for support, my fingers digging into the cold stone as I looked down at the water. A strong wind whipped around me, causing my hair to lash against my face, stinging my skin and making the whole moment feel even more chaotic.

"What if you jump but don't die? What if you just end up handicapped for the rest of your life?"

I froze, my heart pounding. I turned and saw a man casually leaning against the bridge's railing. He looked calm, almost indifferent, with a quiet confidence that made it obvious he wasn't just a random passerby

"Who... who are you?"

"Just someone passing by. Don't really care if you jump or not, but I thought you should consider the consequences. Sometimes things don't end the way we plan." He shrugged, lighting a cigarette.

His words disturbed me. The thought of surviving but being left in a worse state than before terrified me. I took a step back from the edge, my legs shaking.

The man sighed and flicked his cigarette into the water. He turned to leave.

"Are you going?" I asked.

"Yeah. No point in standing out here all night. You're not jumping," he said, sounding almost bored.

"Why do you think that?" I asked, confusion and curiosity mixing in my mind.

"You don't have that look. I've seen the look of people who really jump."

His words made me pause. What did he mean by "the look"? Do I not look like someone truly ready to end it all?

He watched me as I stood there, thinking, contemplating my next move. The silence stretched between us, thick and heavy.

"Want a ride?" he asked, breaking the silence.

I felt a conflict raging inside me. Him or the water? I didn't have any money to get back home, and the thought of being stuck here all night was unbearable. I hadn't brought anything with me. I didn't plan on coming back.

"Look, there's no one else around here. It's late, and this place is deserted. How about I give you a ride home? No point in standing out here all night."

His offer was tempting. But the thought of trusting a stranger made me hesitate. I glanced back at the water, then at him, weighing my options.

"I don't even know you," I said, my voice small.

"I know you," he replied, a hint of a smirk on his face. "You're that girl from the video, the one who caused a commotion at that party and threw a sandal at me."

My heart sank. So he was the one who grabbed me, and I had to hit him with my sandal to break free. The memory made me wince, and hearing him mention the video brought back all the shame and humiliation. The weight of my despair grew heavier. He knew about the video. He knew everything. Everyone knew.

The urge to die became stronger. Without thinking, I closed my eyes and jumped. The cold wind rushed past me. His voice echoed in my mind, but it didn't matter. I had already made my choice.

"What the fuck?" I heard him shouted.

Suddenly, a strong hand grabbed my arm, halting me mid-air. I opened my eyes, and there he was, leaning over the railing, his grip firm and unyielding.

"I was just talking, and you decide to jump?" he shouted, the wind whipping his hair across his face.

"Let go!" I yelled back, my voice barely audible in the roaring wind.

The heavy air pressed down on us, and the gusts threatened to pull me into the water. My hair lashed against my face, momentarily blinding me as I dangled helplessly.

With a grunt, he pulled me back onto solid ground. "At least help me dispose of the corpse before you go dying on me."

I collapsed to my knees, gasping for breath. He stood over me, his chest rising and falling, glaring down at me.

I had enough. Anger flooded through me.

"I hate you all!" I screamed, lunging at him with all the fury I had left. His reflexes were quick, but not quick enough. He stumbled backward, dragging me down with him. I ended up on top, and he caught my wrists, holding them just inches away from his face.

"You all destroyed my life," I cried, my voice trembling with rage and frustration.

These rich, heartless people, who saw me as nothing but a joke. They acted like they owned the world. The people at that party, those from my old school. I hated them all.

"I hate all of you!" I spat with burning resentment. "I hate, hate, hate all of you."

"Whoa, calm down, girl," he chuckled, shoving me aside. My knees scarped against the concrete road.

He stood up, "let's go if your little breakdown is over."

Defeated, I stood up, He led me to his car and opened the door. I climbed in, my body calm now. As he started the engine and pulled away from the bridge.

*****

As we drove, I sat silently, awkwardly looking down at my hands. I was too scared to look at him, unsure of what to say or do. Despite everything, a strange sense of gratitude bubbled up inside me. He had helped me, after all. It had been so long since I'd talked to anyone. Was he trying to stop me from committing suicide?

He seemed like a nice guy. He'd even given me a ride home. Should I say thank you? I hesitated, glancing up at him. My breath hitched, and I immediately turned away, staring back down. He was already looking at me, amused. Why did he look so evil now?

"So, you were the highlight of the party," he said, clearly entertained by the memory.

Embarrassment washed over me. The haunting memories of that night flooded back, and I could feel my face burning with shame.

He suddenly chuckled. "Can't believe you threw a sandal at me... And that pee video of yours... Quite the sight." He laughed, mocking me.

"I didn't expect to encounter a celebrity. Always wanted to meet you since I saw you in that video."

Regret surged through me. Now, he was just another person making fun of my humiliation. I thought wrong. He isn't a nice guy at all. He's making fun of me, just like everyone else. And all this time, I thought he might actually care.

Suddenly, his phone rang. He answered it, his expression growing serious. "Yeah? Now? Fine, I'll be there." He hung up and turned the car sharply, speeding up as he drove into the woods.

"What's happening?" I asked, panic rising in my chest. "I thought you were taking me home."

As we drove, his phone buzzed again. He glanced at it and then at me.

"Oh shit, sorry girl, gotta go there first. It's not like I will do as you say. My car, my rules."

My heart pounded. I didn't want to be around more rich, powerful people who would humiliate me. I just wanted to go home. I was afraid. I didn't want to be associated with them.

"Please, drop me here," I begged.

"Are you crazy? In the middle of the woods?"

"Just take me out now, now! I'll go by myself. Where the fuck are you even taking me?" I demanded, my voice rising.

He sighed, glancing at me. "I'm not your driver. Should have thought before getting in the car with a stranger."

His words shocked me. I felt a mix of fear and regret. How could I have been so foolish?

"You said you weren't a stranger!" I shot back.

"Anyway, whatever. Shhh," he said dismissively.

I looked around, the darkness pressing in on us. "Come on, calm down. I'm here," he said, his tone almost mocking. "You wanna stay here? In the middle of the woods?"

I had no choice. Reluctantly, I sank back into my seat, feeling defeated and regretting my decision not to jump.

He drove on, calm and unbothered, while my heart pounded with dread. We were headed to his meeting place, and I had no idea what awaited me there.

*****