Limits of mortality
It happened at a cloudless autumn night. The lights of the city lighted up the environment, and the sky was covered in millions of small glimmering diamonds. None of these interested me, though. I stood silently, hidden in the shadows of the stare case of a four story building made of red bricks. My eyes were trained on the person sitting with his legs dangling outside the window of the highest floor. What was he doing there? What was he thinking? There were so many questions I wanted to ask. But I was afraid of disturbing him.
xoxox
I was sitting on the windowsill of the highest story. My eyes were fixed on the white betony balcony about two meters below me. After a while I forced myself to look up. My gaze travelled over the city in front of me and then lowered to look at the small front yard. I saw the green fence around the courtyard, and the trees that had lost almost all of their colourful leaves, growing along the fence. The little wooden tool shack looked almost black in the dim glow of the streetlights. One could say the same about the small wooden swing.
I sighed and closed my eyes. I could hear the cars driving by on the streets outside the courtyard. I was anxious and nervous, even though I knew I would make it. I opened my eyes.
xoxox
He opened his eyes. His face showed nothing but determination. He took one last deep breath and then he jumped. I gasped. The few seconds of silence before the fait shout seemed to last forever. I hurried over to the window and stared down at him for the longest time. He was lying on his back, staring at the sky. He looked so… lost, and I couldn't help but chuckle.
xoxox
I gasped for breath as I lay staring at the stars, trying to calm myself, and then I frowned. I had known I would make it without actually getting hurt.
I was surprised as I saw a shadow move at the window above me. Ho long had he been there? After a while he moved away from the window and additionally some time later the door to the balcony opened. I was unsure of how he would react. Even though he leaned against the doorframe laughing quietly I could tell he was disappointed.
"I didn't know it would hurt," I murmured stupidly. "I just knew I would make it." He shook his head with a sigh.
"One day you'll break a bone, or worse, and then you'll regret whatever you've done," he answered. A gust of wind reached his hair and seemed to give it a life of its own for a small moment. A small smile spread over my lips and I pointed out that that would be the day I'd finally found my limits as a mortal. Laughing, he helped me stand up again.