1Convolo
[To fly together]
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I'm standing on the bridge
I'm waiting in the dark
I thought that you'd be here by now
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She walked upon the rotting wood, a canvas bag clutched tightly in her fist. The hollow clunking of her shoe upon wood daunted her little, for there was a vacant stare in her eyes; too much preoccupied with her own thoughts to pay attention to the external world.
A silver chain dangled from her left ear, speckled with black from long use, coupled with an ignorance for cleaniness. The earring contrasted against her brown hair, the latter tied into a ponytail, her middle length fringe hanging freely by the sides of her face. She wore a large long sleeved black shirt, keeping her warm from the cold. Baggy jeans donned her lower body, yet another silver chain tracing the side pocket to the back.
It was nearing the end of the bridge when she stopped.
Where are you going?
She dropped the bag, looking up at the sky. Heavy clouds lined the sky, on the verge of rain. She turned, resting her crossed arms on the wooden railing of the bridge, her gaze still upon the sky.
There were no lights for illusion, no humans to provide company, for she was far, far away from them.
Why have you stopped?
Are you waiting for someone, little girl?
She felt comforted by the darkness, comforted by the cool of the night. The still waters, although reflecting nothing, reflected her being, reflected herself - silent and motionless, but concealed the underlying energy of restlessness.
But she was still, internally, lost.
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There's nothing but the rain
No footsteps on the ground
I'm listening but there's no sound.
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The rain came quietly; first dancing upon the water, then the soft pelting of drops onto her body and wood. She breathed in the bittersweet scent of Life, water running in rivulets down her face, the wind chasing the ends of her hair.
Who are you waiting for?
Tinkering of rain upon water resonated through the sky.
The bridge, mud-caked with footprints, was slowly cleansed away, the broken pieces falling into the river with rhythmic plops.
What are you listening for?
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Isn't anyone trying to find me?
Won't somebody come take me home?
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'Get out!' Her father had screamed. 'I have no such daughter as you!'
He had thrown the grade slip into her face, after shredding it into pieces. Her father then proceeded to punch the wall.
'Did - you - know - how - much - effort - I've SPENT INTO TAKING CARE OF YOU?' His knuckles started to bleed, and she had tried to grab his arm... trying to stop himself from harming himself further... and he had shirked her grasp. He pointed a finger in her face, the single gesture speaking words that she never wanted to hear.
'How... how am I going to face the world with a daughter like you? After you give me this... shit?' Then he left, mumbling to himself, perhaps invoking guilt into her, invoking pain, hatred, disappointment¡
She took her father at his word and left.
Upon leaving, she had torn apart her father's sentences, bit by bit, analyzing every word he had said, trying to defend herself that it was his egoism that made her suffer. She refused to admit to herself that it was she that was her fault, because if only she didn't score that badly -
Stop it.
She had expected her father to come running after her tracks, apologizing profusely for his outburst, begging her to come home. He didn't.
He had hung out of his window, shaking his fist at her, screaming 'I don't have a daughter!' repetitively. She finally cracked, turned around and gave him the finger.
'How... HOW DARE YOU!' Her father's shrieks gradually grew louder.
She ran away.
I never wanted to live this life anyway.
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It's a damn cold night
Trying to figure out this life
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Circles.
Humans run around in circles. Never stopping, never ending. The search for a goal and purpose that never existed.
Then... what was she living for?
Her shirt was growing damp, sticking to her back, but she continued to stare at the river, unperturbed by the shower.
And then, footsteps.
'Hello.'
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Won't you
Take me by the hand
Take me somewhere new
I don't know who you are
But I...
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She turned, looking straight in the eyes of a complete stranger. He was shrouded in shadow, and therefore unable to make him out. She squinted, hoping to get a sharper view of the man.
'It's raining.' In his words, there were no questions, neither was there a need for an answer. It was a simple statement, and yet, there was the underlying question, and the compelling yearn for the answer.
'... I like the rain.'
He laughed; a deep, hearty one. 'Liking the rain won't make you come to such a deserted place as this to enjoy it.'
'What are you doing here then?' she retorted, slightly embarrassed by the reason why she was here.
'I don't know.'
'Neither do I.'
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I'm looking for a place
I'm searching for a face
Is there anybody here I know?
'Cause nothing's going right
And everything's a mess
And no one likes to be alone
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'So, two strangers, on a deserted bridge, with no idea why they're here.' The man leant against the railing, his back facing the water. 'Then... are you going anywhere?'
She contemplated this for a moment, her brow furrowed in thought. Yes, I'm going somewhere, but I don't know where I'm going. I know I have to end up someplace, but where? Go to a friend's house? A relative's? No, I don't want to see anymore familiar faces. I'm tired of this life.
She noticed a hand waving within her vision, however dim. She noticed his hand was calloused, and a thick gold ring on his second finger. 'Anyone home?'
'... I don't know. Everything's accumulating in my head. I can't put anything into words.' She said vaguely, in response to his first question. She had expected a sigh of annoyance, then a shuffle of footsteps, leaving her once again, alone in the darkness¡
But there was no movement. The guy had said nothing, perhaps he was smiling... ?
'Is there anything you can put into words, then?'
'Yes. I want to stop living this life.'
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Why is everything so confusing?
Maybe I'm just out of my mind...
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'... Then what are you planning to do?'
'Suicide?'
'Really?'
'... I don't know.'
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Isn't anyone trying to find me?
Won't somebody take me home?
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She buried her head in her arms, briefly wiping away water that ran down her face. 'I want... to go... somewhere.'
'Somewhere? Where?'
'Anywhere.'
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It's a damn cold night
Trying to figure out this life
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'Then let me help you.' Now he turned around to look at her, one arm leaning against the railing. She noticed his eyes were a tinge of brown and red. 'Let me lead you to that somewhere.'
She looked at him incredulously. 'How would I know to trust you? I don't even know you.'
'I didn't order you to come with me. I offered. It's your choice.'
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Won't you
Take me by the hand
Take me somewhere new
I don't know who you are
But I...
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The drizzle stopped. The weather began to grow humid, the excess water on her shirt dripping onto the bridge. There was a momentary hush between the two strangers, one judging, the other awaiting judgment.
She extended her hand.
'Take me, then.'
He held her hand, leading her into a run, unknowingly, uncaringly, following the path that lead them... to where?
'I don't even know your name.' the girl said.
'... Does it matter?'
The canvas bag, lying on wet wood, stood alone on the bridge, overlooking the river with indifference.
I'm with you.