And then one day…

Welcome to Friday Fictioneers.

THE DETAILS:
Friday Fictioneers: 1 picture, 100 words, scores of people from around the world sharing their creativity and vision. Feel free to join in, just visit Rochelle Wisoff-Fields to find out how.

THE PROMPT:
This week’s photo prompt courtesy of, and copyright by, Sandra Crook. Thank you, Sandra! (I love the colors in that picture and how it’s framed)

THE STORY:

(This story is true. This story is not about me. The thought came to me after seeing the picture because I’ve recently been thinking about a friend who took his life back in August of last year. I have no real idea why I’d be missing him more lately other than maybe something as simple as the beginning of another baseball season. My friend didn’t jump from a bridge, but that doesn’t matter. I miss him and I pray that wherever he is now, he found what he felt he needed and that he’s at peace.)

(It was better with you.)

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And then one day…

No one knows. For days, weeks, maybe months (maybe years?) the voice whispered to him.

Jump. Do it.

And at some point, during those many hours (maybe so slowly he never realized?), his will to fight weakened and he began to wonder if maybe the voice wasn’t right. (If maybe the voice wasn’t the truth?)

Out for a walk and he’d wonder:
Why not? Maybe one day.

Riding his bike:
Why not? Maybe one day.

At night, unable to sleep:
Why not? Maybe one day.

Until one day:
Why not today?

And that day he left the wondering to us.

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I, and others I talked to, never got the chance to say, “I’m here”, or “How can I help?”, so It wouldn’t feel right to leave this story without sharing this. Just in case. 988 Suicide & Crisis Hotline

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