Chapter 1: The Roof
"There's nothing left to talk about." He thought that things were going his way again. But something in him broke that day. There was no one event that did it. Everything just built up and this was his only way to cure himself of the pains.
He could almost stay here all day. He loved this feeling. He was close to peace now, with the wind blowing all around him. But his peace was disturbed by the sounds of the street: the yammering of the people, the sounds of the sirens....everything.
"John," He heard her calling his name again.
"Why can't you just let me do this, Wendall?"
"Because I can't, John. Why don't you come here so we can talk?"
He didn't answer, but instead turned his head back to her and again looked down. Below his feet he saw dozens of people staring up at him. He could almost make out the ER staff. He wished they weren't down there. And now the police were standing with them. The police and firefighters had cleared the land directly down and had prepared for the worst.
While he was consumed in his own world, another friend made her way to the roof. When she heard what was going on she thought that it was a joke. But as the crowd grew outside she knew something was happening. And then she was called up to help. As soon as she opened the roof door she couldn't believe her eyes. This could not be John. This was not the Carter that she knew. She stepped forward and found her voice.
"John, please, come over here. Step down from there." Her mind was spinning. "I need you to do that for me. I need your help."
"You don't need my help." He shifted on his feet.
Everyone on the roof tensed.
She took another step forward and continued, "Yes, John, I do. You are the only one I can ask. You are the only person I can trust." She felt warm tears on her face. "Please John, if not for you, then for me."
He stared straight ahead as he responded, "You don't need me anymore, Abby," and he lifted a foot off of the ledge.