Dan is standing on the roof of his office building, looking over the edge and getting ready to throw himself over it. He works for the IRS, so nobody likes him. As soon as they find out what he does for a living people label him as some bastard helping the government take their money.
He found out today that his wife is seeing another man. She isn't having sex with him. She is just hanging out with him, going to dinner and to the movies, and talking a lot with him. Actually she is doing everything but sleeping with him, and Dan doesn't believe it will take long for things to go that way. He asked his wife why she is doing this and she answered, "I'm just not happy anymore Dan."
As far as Dan could understand it, that meant he didn't make her happy anymore. Did I ever make her happy? He asks himself. When was the last time I was happy? Scenes flash through his mind:
Getting a Ferrari red bike for Christmas, losing his virginity, getting his first job, buying his first car, meeting the woman who would be his wife, his wedding day. All good memories, but all seem far off and hazy, almost as if he watched them on TV sometime ago; like they belonged to someone else.
So that's it then. No one likes me, can't make Her happy, can't be happy myself. What else is there in life?
Dan takes a step onto the ledge and looks around. All the people seem so small bellow him, scurrying down the lighted streets, wary of the shadows in between. Dan does not feel like one of them. Not that he is above them (apart from the literal since). In fact, he didn't feel much of anything.
That's a big drop. I wonder if it will feel like flying...until I hit the ground at least.
Before Dan can take the plunge, he feels a presence behind him. He turns to see a large figure draped in black with telltale "ears" pointing up from its head, and white slits where eyes should be. Dan only vaguely believed in the Batman, but now he has no doubt that is what stands before him. Dan can't speak or even think properly with the imposing form glaring down at him.
Without warning, the Batman reaches out and shoves Dan, sending him over the edge of the roof. As he falls, Dan's heart is racing, sending fear through every part of his body. He screams so hard his lungs burn and the only thought racing through his mind is I'm going to Die!
Something wraps around his legs, slowing his fall to a stop. Then, almost sickeningly, pulls him at great speed back to the roof. When the motion stops Dan looks up to see that he is suspended by a cord held in the Batman hand, who seems unaffected by holding up Dan's entire weight in one arm. The Batman glares down at him, and in an almost unnatural voice asks, "Do you want to die?" Dan is so filled with dread he can not answer.
In response, the Batman presses with his thumb, and suddenly Dan is plummeting back toward the street bellow. As the cement and asphalt speed toward his face, Dan takes a deep breath and screams out, "STOP!"
Once again the cord safely ends his fall and pulls him back skyward. When Dan again hangs close to the dark figure, it asks, "Tell me, do you want to die?"
With tears freely flowing he shakes his head and answers, "No." Gently the Batman lays him down on the roof and undoes the cord. When Dan looks up, the Batman is gone. Dan looks around for a minute, then laughs deeper and with more feeling then he has ever in his life.
Later that night Dan drives home and makes love to his wife. They do so with more energy and passion then they have in what feels like a lifetime. A week later Dan goes on vacation, and takes his wife on a second honeymoon. So far every day since that night has been a lot happier.