Rooftop

Sarah Rosales

Is this it? This is where it ends?

I let out a deep breath, walking past my classmates who were rushing excitedly to get home. They bumped into me, and continued on without so much as a nod. I looked around quickly before I walked up the stairs up onto the roof level. I paused with my hand on the handle, sharply inhaling as I pushed open the door. I froze in the doorway when I saw a girl perched up on the edge, her back to me. In a moment of panic, I yelled something that shocked even myself.

"Don't do it, please!" My voice broke, and I watched the girl turn around and look at me with wide eyes. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she glanced back down over her shoulder.

"Why shouldn't I?" She responded, her voice shaky.

"Please, just get down and tell me what's wrong," I responded, and she hesitated before stepping down off the ledge towards me. She rushed forward and fell into my arms, hugging me tightly.

"I loved him," She spoke into my jacket, tightening her grip.

"What happened?" I responded, already realizing this was some cliche love story. She let out a loud sob,

"My boyfriend cheated on me with my best friend," I looked down at her, she had her head nestled in my chest, body shaking with sobs.

"You were going to kill yourself over some scumbag?" I responded, tilting my head to the side. She stepped back, eyes wide.

"Did you not hear me? I loved him." She said sharply, and I rolled my eyes.

"What's your name?" I asked, and she responded,

"Sarah. Sarah Rosales." I nodded, grabbing her arm gently and pulling her away from the edge.

"Sarah, neither of those people deserve you. None of them. You don't deserve to be cheated on and betrayed. This isn't the end for you, you're going to find your happy ending. You can come back from this." My words were spilling out, and I realized that these were the words I needed someone to say to me.

"Thank you," She responded, wiping her eyes.

"You're welcome. I'm glad you're alive." I responded, chest tight. I had come up here to end my life, and I ended up being a hypocrite and saving someone else, saying life was worth living. Sarah smiled at me before turning to leave. She paused with her hand on the doorknob and looked at me,

"You coming?" She asked me, and I shook my head, turning to look out over the horizon. The sun was beginning it's descent.

"I think I'll stay here a while," I responded, peering over my shoulder to see her disappear through the roof access. I turned back and leaned over the edge, looking down at the courtyard far below. I let out a long sigh, debating whether I really wanted to do this. I threw a leg up over the edge, and hoisted myself up, so I was straddling the ledge. I began to slide forward when suddenly I froze. I fumbled for my phone, and pulled it out, punching in a phone number. I held the phone up to my ear, biting my lip to fight back the tears. I let the tears slip down my cheeks as I got sent to voicemail.

"Hey, you've reached Tony Stark's personal phone. Sorry I missed ya', I'll call you back asap. Please leave a message!"

I listened to the beep after the message, and a sob slipped through my lips. I tried to stifle the cries so when he listened back to the message he wouldn't hear how much pain I was in.

"Hey, Mr. Stark. I think," I paused to collect myself.

"I think this is it." I finished softly, looking out over the city.

"Can you just- can you just... fuck," I chuckled, voice breaking. Tears filling my eyes once again.

"This isn't your fault. I'm sorry." I said, taking a deep breath. I let it go before hanging up the phone and setting it down next to me. I shut my eyes and tilted my head back, letting myself enjoy the cool breeze for the last time.

I sat there, heart pounding. I leaned forward and looked down, nobody was there. I'd be found the next morning. I took a deep breath and pushed myself forward, feeling the building scrape past my fingertips. Then I was free-falling.

Almost immediately I was slammed into the wall, the breath knocked out of me. My eyes flew open to see Mr. Stark in his suit, pinning me to the wall. He wordlessly carried me back up to the roof, setting me down gently. I stared at the floor. I knew I shouldn't have said anything. I should've sent a letter or something.

"Why?" I asked him, keeping my gaze at the floor. I heard his nanotech suit melt away, but I didn't dare to look up.

"What do you mean why?" He asked, his voice thick with emotion.

"Peter. You just tried to kill yourself." He said bluntly. I laughed,

"No, I didn't." I lied, not looking up. I watched Mr. Stark's shoes take two steps forward.

"Then why won't you look at me?" He demanded, and I tilted my head up to meet his eyes. I gave him a weak smile, I managed to keep my tears from flowing as I stood up and stared Tony in the eyes.

"I did. But I'm okay." I lied, he shook his head, seemingly angry, and left me standing there. As soon as he left my legs turned to jelly and I crumpled to the ground, empty.

Another day, perhaps.