I: An Unlikely Meeting

Her flat isn't the biggest in the world. In fact, it was the only large one in her small city. It was only around 50 meters (or 164 ft, which her owner tells the fellow residents to brag about his wealth). It was far away from big shot places, but close enough to supermarkets. Business wise, the owner was clever with his pick. However, the building had an infamous reputation. That being, how it was a spot for people to commit suicide.

Whenever it happened, the owner did grief for the deceased, but had to keep a Stoic face with the reporters. Every time someone new would join, he always ensured they knew if they were suffering any problems, he would gladly help them. Alas, his claims went unknown as those people would be the next ones to kick the bucket.

And that would also come true for this woman, currently on top of the building, about to follow in those nameless footsteps.

She was 23 years old and unemployed. She was very close to running out of money to pay rent, and already wasted her extensions. The reasons for this are unknown, as she never told a single soul her woes. Instead, she decided to keep them to herself forever in life and death.

She had long, red hair that reached near her hips. Freckles spread across her face, to her chin and up to her forehead. However, they were unseeable with the large hoodie, placing it in darkness for only her to know. The only things you could tell about her appearance was the old sweatpants, wrinkled hoodie, and sliver watch on her left wrist hiding the scars.

Her name was Kris Hendrik, and she was about to die.

Smoke escaped her mouth from a cigarette she planned to be her very last. Kris stared down the open road her flat had across from it. A small bit of sweat dropped from her face to the very bottom, but she was confident in this.

Kris had no other desire to live. Not because of hardships or failures, but she saw nothing else to live for. She achieved the goals she wanted to do, and there was nothing else left for her. "So, why bother living?" She thought.

No one gave her a worthwhile answer, so she came to her own.

Death.

She looked up again to see her watch. 23:55. She decided that 0:00 would be the time she would jump off. If you were to ask her why that specific time, she would respond grimly, "If I don't exist, I would like it to be a new day. Like waking up from a dream."

23:56.

It was a very chilly night. She started to shiver quite a bit that Kris didn't notice the door to the roof opening. Only until she heard loud steps, she turned around curiously. Kris didn't seem annoyed, but instead curious on who decided to be here with her.

The person was a woman with a very clean suit on.

She had short blond hair with pink highlights that were nearly visible. Her suit looked very new, with a price tag still hanging from her armpits. She wore a small earring on her left ear. Although, she looked quite formal, the dark bags under her eyes said otherwise. She stunk like old milk and her hair was all tangled as if she didn't bother to take care of it for months. She looked very exhausted and, usually, no one would think she looked remotely pretty.

But Kris looked at her in wonder and awe. She could only think, "She is the most beautiful woman I've ever seen." But she tossed the thought out. She knew better, not to think of such sapphic thoughts.

She was raised in a very religious household that banned such lifestyles and thoughts. Though that never stopped Kris from doing those things. She did always feel incredibly guilty for going against those teachings, but Kris found this desire to go against those rules and do what she wanted.

But she never once thought to date the same gender as her. Even if those thoughts popped up, she buried them deep into the ground to never see the light of day.

Then again, today will be her last day on earth, so it shouldn't matter to her any more. She knew that hell was the only place for her after this, so may as well continue that very path.

"Hey cutie, whatcha doing up here?" Kris tried her beat to imitate men that would hit on girls. She didn't exactly know why she wanted to do it with her, but nothing mattered at this point.

The woman was too busy staring off into space, but did notice her words. The woman eventually glanced at her. "Just about to die, is all."

Kris was thrown off a tad there. Even she wouldn't bluntly declare her suicide actions like a normal response. But that suddenly intrigued her even so slightly.

The woman chucked loudly, without a care in the world. "What happened to all that confidence?"

Kris could feel red in her cheeks. "I-I've never heard someone say that in a such a way before. T-That's all." Her heart started to beat two paces faster.

"Ah, if you say so," the woman said. She started to move closer and closer to Kris. What she had in mind, Kris didn't know until she placed her hand on her shoulder. However, that was a poor choice. No longer did Kris' heart beat fast, or she blushed. Instead, she felt a sharp pain from that one small touch.

Kris cried out, "Don't touch me!"

The woman looked back in shock, but contained herself. "I'm sorry. I didn't think you were the type."

"The type?"

"The type to hate the touch of another." The woman answered as she walked towards the edge of the roof.

The wind started to flow in the women's direction, causing their hair to feel the air circling around.

Kris checked her watch.

0:00

It was time. But the woman beat her to it as she started to tip over the roof. Unlike Kris' nervousness over the edge, this woman held her head high before she launched herself off the building. Or attempted to.

For some unexplainable reason, Kris grabbed her arm and pulled the strange woman back towards her. Before the woman could grab on to Kris' body, she naturally moved out of the way while insuring the woman's safety.

The woman looked back at Kris in angry. "Why the hell did you do that?"

Kris couldn't explain to her the reason. However, she could at least come up with an easy excuse to respond back to her.

"I just, didn't want to see someone die. That's all."

The woman scoffed at her. She seemed to not believe a single word Kiris said, and walked back to the edge. Before she could try her attempt again, Kris grabbed her arm and pulled her back. When Kris did, touching that women pain her, but there was no other way.

But what pained Kris more was the slap she received from the woman.

She had been slapped before, from the many abusive relationships she experienced, but never before did a slap give her heart such an ache.

The woman had tears in her eyes and started to fall down on the rooftop.

The wind blew harder again, moving through the woman's short hair. The wind even took some tears away, but not all of it.

"Why... Why won't you let me die? I want to die! Just let me die! Please!"

The woman started to shout so loud, her voice cracked between each line.

Kris didn't know what to say. She, too, wanted to die, so why stop this woman's attempt? By her own logic, she wouldn't be thrilled to have someone stop her final day either. Yet, something about this woman made her forget all that. Something about her wanted Kris to help her.

So, Kris went down to her level. Crouching down, she honestly spoke, "I don't want to see such a beautiful woman die. I really have no other reason than that."

"I hate you..." The woman sobbed even harder with snot coming out of her nose. It was truly a pitiful sight, but Kris only fell deeply in love.

Maybe she fell in love because this woman was like her. Pathetic and worthless.

Maybe she fell in love because she was too scared to jump. Such a coward she was.

Or maybe, there was no reason. Kris was just an idiot.

Who knows?

Kris then realised something. "What's your name? I never got it."

Of course, Kris was considerate enough to let the woman stop her crying. Though, it took such a long time for her to settle down. She couldn't imagine what the woman's thoughts were, but it seemed to be stopped so suddenly really broke her.

Eventually, she stopped crying and all that was left was an even messier face. A cute, messy face.

"My name?" She stopped for a moment, perhaps wondering whether she should give it or not. Then, she replied, "It's Steph Plaskett."

Kris could only say, "What a pretty name."

"You would be the first and last to say that to me."

Before any more conversation could occur, the owner of the flat came to the rooftop. He most likely heard the yelling, as it was very loud. The owner seemed tired and sweating profusely. The man wasn't the most active one in the world as seen by how chubby he was. Alas, the owner was, at minimum, kind and caring to have run up the long stairway to the roof.

"Is her okay?!" The owner asked hysterically.

Kris almost panicked, but quickly found an answer. "Don't worry, she's just an old friend of mine."

"I thought you said you had no friends. Proudly in fact."

"Shut it."

Steph chuckled unexpectedly at that exchange.

Kris signalled to Steph to follow back into the flat. She saw Steph look back at the edge of the roof, and sombrely followed her. Kris mumbled to the owner as they passed him, "I'm going to take her to my room. She'll be okay."

The owner doubted that last part, but had faith in Kris. He had reason to believe Kris was going to commit suicide, but it seemed he was thankfully wrong. As everyone left, he shut and locked the door. He hoped it would have been opened again.

Kris and Steph, silently, hoped otherwise.