Why am I still here?

Damien stood at the edge of the bridge, his breath mixing with the cool night air, heavy with questions he couldn’t answer. The world spun around him, but all he could feel was the beat of his heart against the empty space. Shadows whispered at the edge of his sight, taunting him. The river below roiled, a dark mass of chaos reflecting the storm inside him.

*Am I really alive?* The thought lingered, teasing him, while everything felt unclear, like muffled laughter haunting his memories. He couldn’t tell where it came from—was it his past or someone else’s?

He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to block it out, but memories crashed in like waves—moments of laughter that turned into cries for help. *What is real?* The question gnawed at him. *Was I always like this?*

The whispers grew louder, drowning out his thoughts. High school was supposed to be the best time of his life, but what if it wasn’t? What if it was just a cruel joke?

"You think you’re invincible, Damien? One day, you’ll fall."

The voice felt familiar, but he couldn’t remember who it belonged to. The wind pulled him closer to the edge, and his heart raced. Do I even want to be here?

With one last look at the darkness below, he surrendered. The world went silent, as if holding its breath. Then, he jumped.

As he fell, a rush of air filled his lungs. The sensation was both freeing and terrifying, as if he were shedding the weight of his existence. For a brief moment, everything slowed down. In those final seconds, a kaleidoscope of memories flashed before him: childhood laughter echoing in the park, his mother’s gentle smile, friends who once shared joyful moments—all beautiful fragments of life overshadowed by the darkness of despair.

But interspersed within the joy were flashes of pain: the bullied kids at school, the fear in their eyes, the anger and loneliness that had spiraled into this moment. The feeling of invincibility faded, replaced by a profound realization of what he was leaving behind.

Would anyone even miss me?

Just as the water below loomed closer, a powerful grip wrapped around him, yanking him backward and halting his descent. The beggar—yes, the same beggar he had humiliated just days ago—caught him mid-air, pulling him back from the brink. They landed together on the bridge, the beggar landing heavily but keeping Damien upright.

"Are you insane?!" the beggar yelled, his voice filled with a mix of anger and concern. "What the hell were you thinking?"

Damien stared at him, still reeling from the sudden stop, confusion flooding his mind. "Why... why did you save me?"

The beggar, still catching his breath, looked Damien square in the eye. "Because nobody deserves to die like that. Not even you. You may have been an a*s before, but you still have a life to live. You can change. You can make better choices."

Damien shook his head, disbelief flooding his senses. "You don’t know me. You don’t know what I’ve done."

"I know enough," the beggar replied, his voice steady. "I know what it’s like to feel like there’s no way out. But you can’t give in to that feeling. Not now. Not ever."

The two stood in silence for a moment, the enormity of the situation hanging heavy in the air. Damien’s heart raced, the adrenaline from his jump still coursing through his veins. He looked out at the dark waters, feeling the pull of the abyss but also feeling the grip of the beggar’s hand, grounding him in reality.

"Why did you come here?" Damien finally asked, still confused by the beggar’s sudden appearance.

"I was passing by," the beggar replied, shrugging. "And I saw you on the edge. Figured someone should intervene before you made a huge mistake. But then I remembered how you treated me the other day. I thought about leaving you to it. But in the end, it didn’t feel right."

Damien’s throat tightened as shame washed over him, recalling how he had laughed with his friends, how he had treated this man like dirt. He looked at the beggar, seeing the scars of life etched into his face. "Why do you care? I was horrible to you."

The beggar scoffed, shaking his head. "Because everyone deserves a second chance, even you. You may think you’re a lost cause, but you’re still breathing so you still have a choice."

Damien nodded slowly, the weight of the beggar's words settling into his heart. For the first time, he felt something shift within him. He wasn't just a bully. He had the power to change.

"What if I want to change?" Damien asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "How do I even start?"

The beggar regarded him thoughtfully. "Start small. Change the way you see the world. Start with kindness—real kindness, not just a way to make yourself feel better. Help others, even if it means helping someone like me. You’d be surprised how a little compassion can shift your perspective."

Damien’s mind whirled as he considered this. Memories of his life flashed again, this time with a different lens—seeing the people he had hurt, the friends he had abandoned. What if he could change their stories, too?

As he stood there, he realized that life was a tapestry woven from moments of joy and pain, love and regret. With every thread intertwined, each choice held the potential to change the fabric of his existence.

Damien nodded, determination coloring his voice. "Okay, I’ll try."

The beggar smiled, a glimmer of pride shining in his tired eyes. "Good. Just remember, it’s a long road. And you’ll stumble along the way. But it’s worth it."

As the beggar turned to leave, Damien hesitated, then called out, "Wait! Can I... can I give you something?"

The beggar looked back, surprised. "What for?"

"For saving my life." Damien reached into his pocket and pulled out some crumpled bills. "Here."

The beggar accepted the money with a nod, his expression softening. "Thanks, kid. But remember, it’s not about what you give me. It’s about what you choose to do with your life from now on."

Just before the beggar walked away, Damien felt a sudden impulse and asked, "What’s your name?"

The beggar paused, a hint of nostalgia crossing his face. "It’s been a long time since anyone asked me that. Well, my name is Leo—just Leo!"

Damien watched as Leo walked away, feeling a mix of gratitude and newfound determination surging through him.

As he stood on the bridge, he took a deep breath, inhaling the cold night air. The dark waters below no longer held the same appeal. He stepped away from the edge, allowing the fear that had consumed him to dissolve into something new—a flicker of hope.

It was time for a change. It was time to reclaim his life.