Chapter 2

After a few hours, darkness began to flow through my room, and I glanced at the clock: 8:10 p.m. I carefully stepped out, looking in both directions down the hallway. I walked slowly toward the stairs; I knew the guard for the girls' wing wasn't there because I had memorized her routine. That was guard changing time; I had five minutes before the night guard arrived. The first floor didn't have as much security as the second and third. The regular stairs were heavily guarded starting from the second and third floors. But the outside emergency stairs couldn't be blocked by law, and as the guard changed, I had a few seconds to reach them and climb up to the roof. As soon as I reached the rooftop, the wind blew my hair back violently. The night was deadly cold, as usual. I pulled my jacket tighter around my body, trying to protect myself from the breeze that chilled my skin.

The sight of the dark forest surrounding the mental hospital building was a little scary, along with the light of the city, which seemed to be far away. I took a deep breath, filling my lungs, and then exhaled slowly. The moment had come.

On a cold April night, I decided to end my existence.

Many were going to judge me for what I was going to do, but they couldn't understand what I had been through. Life no longer made sense to me; I had no motive or reason to keep going. Yes, call me a coward; I was choosing the easy way out. I had made the decision the day I woke up knowing my family was gone. However, I had tried for three weeks to find a reason to keep going, and sadly, nothing had worked.

How could I live? When I knew my family had been murdered in cold blood, and even though I couldn't remember that tragic night, every time I closed my eyes all I saw was blood; every time I saw a couple, I remembered my parents. Every time I heard a child's laughter, I remembered my little sister. Oh... and the nightmares... they were horrible. No one could blame me for giving up. It was my only option.

My desperate decision.

I climbed onto the railing shakily and looked down. The feeling of emptiness in front of me made me bite my lip nervously.

For a moment I felt scared, but that feeling was replaced by relief that it was all over. The world had become suffocating to me, so meaningless. My eyes filled with tears, I looked up at the sky. I liked to think that my family was up there and that they were waiting for me; that was my only consolation.

“I’m sorry, Mom and Dad,” my voice faltered. “I tried; I really did,” I said into the air. Tears rolled down my cheeks. I just had to let myself fall, and it would all be over. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes.

Jump- I stopped breathing when I heard a male voice next to me. -What are you waiting for? I opened my eyes and turned my head to the side to look for the source of that voice.

There was a guy in a black hoodie leaning against the railing. I couldn't see his face because he had the hood of his hoodie over his head, but I noticed a cigarette in his right hand and watched as he brought it to his mouth and took a drag.

No one is coming to stop you if that's what you're waiting for - his voice sounded so cold and calculating that I wondered if he was even human. He exhaled the smoke, letting me see his lips for a second, but immediately his face returned to the shadows of the hood it was all dark.

"I don't want to be arrested," he said as I looked straight ahead, trying to ignore him.

Tick tock, tick tock, hurry up and jump - I glanced at him; he was still smoking.

Could you please leave? - I asked, annoyed.

No.

I would like to have some privacy on the day I die- I looked at him once more, but he remained still, not even looking at me.

Imagine I'm not here - he exhaled the smoke slowly.

I wouldn't have to imagine anything if you'd just leave me alone.

I told you, I don't want to - he threw the cigarette to the ground and stepped on it, crushing it - You should hurry up.

Go away.

Oh God, this kid is annoying.

Why not?

Because I don't want to - he sighed in frustration - Do you want me to give you a push?

I don’t want you here.

Hurry up.

I'm going to die when I decide, not when you say!

Of course - he turned his face in my direction, and for a second I managed to see a pair of fascinating grey eyes through the darkness of the hood - Cowards will not enter the kingdom of heaven; haven't you heard that? - He looked away, leaving me intrigued.

Jump, he said.

Anger ran through me.

I stepped off the railing and turned to where he was supposed to be, but he was gone. I looked around trying to find him, and there was no sign of him.

Miss Garnier? - I saw the guard in the distance, looking at me disapprovingly. - Move away from the railing, now! You can't be here; it's absolutely forbidden, especially for you - I knew he was referring to my diagnosis; it was time to play dumb.

Oh, I had no idea; I'm really sorry, I just wanted some fresh air.

As if I were to believe you; go to your room, now.

I nodded and ran towards the stairs quickly. I was lucky that the guard was in a good mood that night; otherwise, she might have reported me to the head of the psychiatric hospital, and I would be in trouble. The last thing I wanted was reports that would get me moved to the second floor.

As I walked down the hall to my room, I remembered the annoying boy on the rooftop. Who was he? And what was he doing on the roof of the girls' wing? The most surprising thing was his attitude; he didn't try to stop me like normal people would. In fact, he had goaded me into jumping! My curiosity kept forming questions in me.

I walked into my room and closed the door behind me. My plan had failed; the frustration of not being free and being with my parents made me throw my pillows all over my room. I remembered the boy who stopped me, and a mix of anger and curiosity invaded me.

Who are you, hooded one?