It was one of those days- where the moon and the stars are nowhere to be found even when the sky was clear with a gentle breeze to ease restless souls.
On top of a bridge stood a boy, a teenager by the look of it- crying his heart out.
He was in pain. His head already gave up on him but, his soul held on.
The soul was clearly scared. She could hear it calling for help, for an intervention of any kind.
She waited. And waited- until the boy's voice dried up for his soul to give up but, it still held on.
Even when the boy climbed over the fence- The soul still had hope.
The woman sighed in the end, "Don't jump if you really want to die"
The boy was so scared by the sudden voice that he slipped and was falling into the sea before he got stranded mid air. Terrified to look down.
"Uh... Wha... What... How did you... Who are you?" The boy questioned, fear evident in his voice.
"How does it feel to be under my control?" The woman asked, curious.
The boy wanted to cry, "Please put me down... Please." Begged the boy, "I'm afraid of heights"
The woman carried him to where she was seated. The boy couldn't believe anything happening to him to be true.
"Hello" Greeted the woman politely, "You have a very powerful soul. It trusts your will power"
The boy was still in-shock, trembling- but he still extended his hand to touch her cloak and missed.
She was more or less like a hologram. A very good hologram.
"What are you?" Asked the boy in wonder and amazement.
The woman paused to ponder the question, "I don't know how to say it in your language"
"Then tell me in yours" The boy suggested and the woman still couldn't find the way.
They were created simply knowing what to do, where and when to do it. Simple.
"I can't" The woman said at last. "You want something to drink before I take you home?"
The boy leaned towards her trying to make up her face underneath that heavy black cloak she was wearing.
"Since when where you seated here?" Asked the boy unsure of what to feel about it, "And why didn't you say anything?"
"I've been here for 300 hundred years," Replied the woman grimly, "I didn't say anything because I thought maybe your soul would give up and let your body go"
"That's just creepy and selfish" Said the boy, disgusted. The woman turned to him, studying his features.
"I've been accused for far worse" She turned back to the bridge over looking the sea. "So, what's your story?"
The boy stretched his body, awkwardly. "You know the usual. You get your heart broken, dreams fading and life loses its meaning"
The woman found his lie, offensive. "I meant for you personally. What made you come here?"
The boy was so scared by her tone that he flinched and squirmed.
"I... I... I lied to my parents that I'm in college but, I used the school fees to buy myself a guitar"
The woman only hummed in agreement before silence hugged the area.
"You think it's a stupid reason" Asked the boy breaking the silence.
"I don't know how to do that," Replied the woman softly.
"Do what? Think?" Asked the boy getting upset.
"Judge," Replied the woman softly.
The boy was left speechless. Blinking.
"I once heard that the truth is a very important attribute to a human's life" Started the woman carefully, "Have you tried telling them the truth?"
"I was afraid to dissapoint them" Said the boy feeling guilty and ashamed. "I still am"
"And you think they'd be happier to lose you together with the money and their expectations of you?" Asked the woman, her eyes still looking far beyond the distance.
"At least I won't be there to witness their disappointment and heartbreak" Replied the boy, defensive.
The woman was amused, "You are quite the saint, aren't you?"
"You don't know how to judge but, you sure can mock!" Pointed out the boy at the irony.
The woman stood abruptly scaring the boy. "What's wrong?"
The woman turned to the boy, her head cocked sideways.
"You're going to sleep now and when you wake up? You'll forget about everything" Chanted the woman before she disappeared.
And the boy woke up on his bed. A guitar under his bed.
It was the next day.