[Original: Drabble] "Bridging Things" [Zeke Jones, G
Title: Bridging Things
Prompt: writerverse challenge #14 October table of doom
Photo Used: photo #13
Word Count: 443
Rating: G
Original/Fandom: original ( Zeke Jones ‘verse)
Warnings: implied mentions of suicidal intent
Summary: Zeke talks a young woman down from the ledge, under a bridge.
Bridging Things
If I ignored the possibility of plunging to my death in the icy water below, the steady roar of the Schuykill River was actually kind of soothing.
I’d had to stand on the roof of our patrol car to reach the underside of the bridge structure, finding precarious footholds in the (worryingly rusty) metal and I couldn’t imagine it had been any easier for the young woman who had made her way down from the roadway above.
She looked to be about high school age, or maybe just starting college, huddled up under the steel girder in cut-off shorts and an oversized hoodie.
“Hey,” I said, knowing she must have heard me climbing up. “Room up there for one more?”
“Go away,” said the girl. Her straggly blonde hair fell over her face, but on her bare legs, I could see bruises that I knew couldn’t have come from the climb down, even in the unlikely event that she’d been clumsier than I was. “Just leave me alone.”
I ignored her. “See, there’s only two reasons I can think of for being up here on this lovely… picturesque… you know, bridge. Either you’re part of that ‘parkour’ movement I’ve been hearing about, in which case I’ll have to tell you that the undersides of bridges are not, in fact, public spaces and ask you to take your feats of daring-do elsewhere. Or, you’re planning to jump, in which case I have to ask… Why?”
“Why do you care?” the girl shot back.
“It’s my job,” I told her. “Says so right on the side of our car. Serve and protect.”
“I didn’t think cops believed in that anymore.”
“Some of us do. I’m Zeke, by the way.”
“Jessica,” she said.
I worked my way over to the gap in the metal support braces next to hers, and hauled myself into it. “Nice view. You been up here long?”
She shook her head.
“I don’t suppose it would help to tell you it gets better?”
Jessica shook her head again. “It won’t bring my parents back.”
“No,” I said, softly. “It won’t. But it does get better. I miss my parents every day, but I still have people who care about me. See that cop down there? The one yelling at all the firefighters? That’s my partner, my best friend, and I know he’s always looking out for me.”
“I… I’ve got an aunt,” said Jessica. “Any my best friend Sarah’s family.”
“See? They’ll help if you’ll let them.” I held out my hand to her. “What do you say we climb down now? Carefully?”
Jessica managed a smile, and took my hand. “Okay.”
THE END
Current Mood:
blah
Prompt: writerverse challenge #14 October table of doom
Photo Used: photo #13
Word Count: 443
Rating: G
Original/Fandom: original ( Zeke Jones ‘verse)
Warnings: implied mentions of suicidal intent
Summary: Zeke talks a young woman down from the ledge, under a bridge.
Bridging Things
If I ignored the possibility of plunging to my death in the icy water below, the steady roar of the Schuykill River was actually kind of soothing.
I’d had to stand on the roof of our patrol car to reach the underside of the bridge structure, finding precarious footholds in the (worryingly rusty) metal and I couldn’t imagine it had been any easier for the young woman who had made her way down from the roadway above.
She looked to be about high school age, or maybe just starting college, huddled up under the steel girder in cut-off shorts and an oversized hoodie.
“Hey,” I said, knowing she must have heard me climbing up. “Room up there for one more?”
“Go away,” said the girl. Her straggly blonde hair fell over her face, but on her bare legs, I could see bruises that I knew couldn’t have come from the climb down, even in the unlikely event that she’d been clumsier than I was. “Just leave me alone.”
I ignored her. “See, there’s only two reasons I can think of for being up here on this lovely… picturesque… you know, bridge. Either you’re part of that ‘parkour’ movement I’ve been hearing about, in which case I’ll have to tell you that the undersides of bridges are not, in fact, public spaces and ask you to take your feats of daring-do elsewhere. Or, you’re planning to jump, in which case I have to ask… Why?”
“Why do you care?” the girl shot back.
“It’s my job,” I told her. “Says so right on the side of our car. Serve and protect.”
“I didn’t think cops believed in that anymore.”
“Some of us do. I’m Zeke, by the way.”
“Jessica,” she said.
I worked my way over to the gap in the metal support braces next to hers, and hauled myself into it. “Nice view. You been up here long?”
She shook her head.
“I don’t suppose it would help to tell you it gets better?”
Jessica shook her head again. “It won’t bring my parents back.”
“No,” I said, softly. “It won’t. But it does get better. I miss my parents every day, but I still have people who care about me. See that cop down there? The one yelling at all the firefighters? That’s my partner, my best friend, and I know he’s always looking out for me.”
“I… I’ve got an aunt,” said Jessica. “Any my best friend Sarah’s family.”
“See? They’ll help if you’ll let them.” I held out my hand to her. “What do you say we climb down now? Carefully?”
Jessica managed a smile, and took my hand. “Okay.”
THE END
Current Mood:
blah