By: Angela Jin

It was exactly twelve o’clock. Midnight came in pitch black. Murky clouds appeared vaguely, and not a single star was seen. To others, the midnight sky meant the arrival of sweet dreams, but to Mary it meant her last chance to live. Mary Elsher was a third year college student, who lived all alone in a strange city. She lost her mother—the only person who loved her—in a car accident, and there was no reason for her to visit her hometown.

Sitting on the bridge’s railing, Mary reflected on her unfulfilling childhood. She remembered growing up scared every day. She and her mom would hide in the only attic in their monolithic house, afraid to get caught by her drunkard father, who later died due to excessive alcohol consumption. Mary looked toward the moonlight. Her face isn’t the fancy type, but ordinary, maybe even below average. Her nose was dark red, her eyes were swollen, and her cheeks were puffy, like she had just cried, which she had.

In later years, after her father died, Mary worked hard enough to get into an average college here near the coast, with better living conditions. But unfortunately, her mother passed away during her first year of college. Things hadn’t been well ever since then. She couldn’t pay her rent and debt; she’s gradually failing school; and she’s all on her own. She lived reclusively, which isolated her from people at school. She didn’t know what to do about her future, and lost her passion for living.

She came here to take her life.

She came here to seek help.

The bridge was about twenty-five feet above the river. Beneath it, waves raced downstream. Mary closed her eyes. She heard water splashing onto rocks and soft sounds from the crickets.

“How beautiful,” thought Mary. “But I’m not gonna be able to hear it again.”

She waited a while, then made up her mind and started counting. One. Two. She slid down a bit more. Th…

Suddenly, her phone rang. It was a stranger’s number. Mary hesitated a little, then picked it up. A little girl’s voice came into her ear.

“Mommy? When are you coming back from the night shift?”

Mary froze. Then tears started rolling down her face. She made sniffle sounds.

“Mommy, are you crying? No mommy, be strong, I’m waiting for you home!” The voice came back, bittersweetness this time.

A wrong phone number. That was all it took to save a life.