"Ahh! Look! What’s she doing?!"

A woman suddenly spotted something horrifying. She pointed shakily at the sky and screamed.

The crowd around her followed her finger upward.

Even I, who’d been walking calmly down the street, looked up out of curiosity. Directly above, a figure in white was trying to climb over the railing on the roof of a 16-story building.

*Suicide?*

I’d never actually witnessed this in real life before.

I’d seen scenes like this on TV news—people who’d lost hope in life leaping from tall buildings to end it all. They’d often regret it the moment they jumped. After all, the terror of death outweighed any mundane stress life threw at them.

The lucky ones might land on air cushions. The unlucky would hit the ground, brains splattered.

In emergencies like this, calling the police was the smart move. I pulled out my phone and dialed.

I described the situation clearly enough and gave the exact location.

Thankfully, it was near my place—I knew the address well.

After hanging up, I wondered what I could do for this person who’d surely regret taking her own life.

Around me, adults and kids gathered like spectators at a show. They pointed and stared but made no move to help.

Typical cold indifference. Strangers’ lives meant nothing to them.

The figure on the rooftop lowered her head, glancing at the crowd below. Her body hesitated for a second—then she swung her other leg over the railing.

*So eager to embrace death?*

*This idiot?!*

No time to wait for the police. Panic surged through me. My legs moved on their own, sprinting into the building. At the elevator, I jabbed the button hard and waited, heart pounding.

The floor indicator crept downward, ignoring my urgency.

The elevator crawled—too many people coming and going. Every second wasted felt like a lifetime.

*She couldn’t have already…*

My mind raced. That girl’s life hung by a thread.

When the elevator finally arrived, I rushed in and jabbed the top-floor button. The doors slid open on the roof, and I burst out without catching my breath, scanning desperately for her.

I spotted the reckless fool on the side facing the street.

*Thank god. She’s still there.*

"Hey! Wait!" I yelled.

"Hmm?" She turned at the sound.

The figure wore a white slip dress, black hair spilling over slender shoulders. Her slim frame stood tall against the low railing. Delicate features—undeniably pretty.

*A girl?*

I froze in shock.

Her appearance screamed high school student.

Barefoot, she stood on the marble ledge outside the railing. Her white flats sat neatly beside her.

"What do you want?" Her gaze was hollow as I approached.

"Classmate, what are you doing? It’s dangerous! Get down!" I lunged to grab her.

"Don’t come closer." Her voice was flat. She loosened her grip on the railing as a threat.

Her body swayed slightly against the metal bar. The thin fabric of her dress fluttered in the high-altitude wind.

"Go away." Her eyes held pure disgust. No room for negotiation.

"I won’t move. I’ll just stand here, okay?" I halted instantly, sensing her anger.

She glanced at me, then down at the gawking crowd.

"Getting their attention… maybe that’s the last value I have in this world." It sounded like she was talking to me—or to herself.

"Think of your parents. They’d be heartbroken if you jumped." I tried reasoning.

"They don’t care. They can just have another kid." A cold laugh escaped her.

"What about teachers and classmates? They’d miss you too."

"Replaceable. The world won’t notice if I’m gone." Her smile was bitter.

"And others who love you! They’d be devastated to see you wasting your life!"

While talking, I inched closer. My body was almost within reach.

"Who, exactly?" Her face was blank, as if searching.

"Think harder! There must be someone! Please!" I pleaded.

"If there were… I wouldn’t be here."

A look of utter emptiness crossed her face. She stepped forward.

Instantly, she plummeted like a wingless dove.

I threw myself forward, grabbing her arm.

Her skin burned against my palm—a searing, raw friction. She must’ve felt it too.

"Ahh! It hurts!" She twisted midair, screaming.

"Don’t move!" Her falling weight dragged me past the railing. Only one hand gripped the metal bar, barely holding us both.

Wind whipped around us. The dizzying ground surged closer, then farther. I gasped for air, fighting panic.

"Just let go. I know you don’t want to die." She stilled, staring up at my strained face reflected in her empty eyes.

"I don’t want to die! And I won’t let you die! Hold my hand—don’t let go!" If she’d just pull herself up…

"Why should I? You’re nothing to me. Leave me alone." She glared.

"You said no one cares about you, right? Let me try." My grip was slipping.

"Do you… like me?" She studied me uncertainly.

"…"

The words choked in my throat.

"Liar." She tried prying my fingers off with her free hand.

"I LIKE YOU! JUST HOLD ON!" I roared, eyes shut.

"Do you love me?" She stopped struggling, staring at me.

"Sweetheart, I LOVE you! Just hold on—I can’t keep this up!" My arm felt like it was tearing apart.

"No sincerity." She resumed peeling my fingers away.

"I LOVE YOU! I LOVE YOU MOST! GRAB ON!" My arm screamed in protest.

"Will you be my boyfriend?" A faint blush colored her cheeks.

"I’d be your grandson if you asked! JUST HOLD ON!" My brain had stopped working—agree to anything.

"…Okay."

"Huh?"

"But… it might be too late."

She watched her slender arm slide slowly from my grasp until only her wrist remained.

My fingers were numb. *If only I’d worked out more…*

"Just hold my hand! Please!" I begged.

She didn’t resist. Her palm stayed open, a quiet smile on her lips as she watched me.

Her hand slipped lower. I tightened my grip again and again—but couldn’t stop her slide.

Desperate, I hooked my foot around the railing and reached down with my other hand, catching her arm.

She’d closed her eyes, bracing for impact—but the ground didn’t rush up.

"Planning to die with me?" She realized I was past the point of no return too.

"Climb up my body!" I strained, both hands on her now.

She hesitated, then gave me a look like I was an idiot.

"Let go! LET GO!" She pounded violently on my hands.

Hope had flickered in her eyes—but seeing she couldn’t save herself, and now dragging someone else down, she chose to give up.

Even with two hands, I was failing. I’d given everything.

*I can’t…*

*I can’t hold on anymore…*

Just as I was about to release her, relief flooded me—someone grabbed my leg from behind.

We were hauled up fast. The rooftop was now crowded with people.

Back on solid ground, I tried to loosen my grip on her arm—but my nerves were dead. No feeling.

"Almost died…" I slumped against the wall, gasping.

Blurry figures approached.

"You two okay?" The man who’d pulled us up crouched beside us.

Dizziness from the height still swirled in my vision. Shock sealed my lips.

"Never do this again. You’re young—don’t risk your lives over small things." He patted both our shoulders.

"Was she dumped by her boyfriend? Look how tightly they’re holding hands!"

"Probably."

…

Random chatter buzzed around me. I couldn’t muster the energy to correct them. My mind replayed the terrifying freefall on loop.

*This is what ‘scared out of your wits’ feels like.*

She wasn’t much better. Her arm stayed limp in my grasp, oblivious to the noise around her.

After a while, uniformed police arrived.

They took statements, recorded my ID and address. Only after triple-checking that I didn’t know her was I allowed to leave. She’d be escorted home, her parents notified.

*Maybe with the police involved, her family will finally talk to her. This won’t happen again.*

She left dazed, supported by officers. Never once did she look back at me. She’d already forgotten every word she’d said to me.

*Fine. Let her forget. Her delirious words were just venting to a stranger.*