I saw the poster Samaritans. Suicide – Talk to Us. So, this very pleasant young fellow came on and I told him I wanted to kill myself and could he help. He asked me questions and said we should meet.
I thought: at last, I’ll find out how to end it. The Samaritans would have lots of tips.
He told me his name was Churchill and made a lame joke about being named after Winston. I didn’t get it and he said I must know Winston Churchill. When I insisted no, he told me who Winston Churchill was, but I forget: something to do with the Second World War. Was he a general?
So, I was up on the ledge on the top floor of the carpark. I was convinced if I jumped I was far enough up to kill myself: barring accidents. I sat there feeling much better because now I saw how to ease my misery. A crowd gathered and some showed their support by willing me on.
Winston turned up. We’d been seeing a lot of each other by this time. I knew by now he was trying to stop me killing myself. He sat next to me and tried to talk me down, We chatted about this and that. I was just about to jump off when Winston went white. He had no head for heights.
He reached toward me and next thing he was gone over the edge. I was right, I was far enough up.
Words: Richard Rooney
Illustration: A.I.
Flash Fiction 250
Flash Fiction 250 