It's lonely up here. A bit cold, too. Maybe even a bit sad. Though the sun is warm. It's sitting right at the end of the street, slowly sinking down into the night.
Right now, everything feels so small, and… peaceful. Like the world's just stopped. And there's nothing to worry about, nothing to feel anxiety over. Just… a sun at the end of the road, and beyond that, not a single thing.
Behind me I hear the subtle crunching of snow beneath a boot, and I don't know why, but I feel calm. More calm than I've ever felt before, like the weight of the world was just lifted from my shoulders. The crunches stop right behind me and I hear a voice. Quiet, tepid, human.
"Hey, mind if I sit here?"
My jaw drops and my eyes widen.
"Uh…. uh…. yuh."
"I guess that's a yes."
He sits down right next to me and releases a sigh.
"It's cold out here, don'tcha think?"
"You… you…. you're…"
"Well, yeah, I guess I am… What's your name?"
"Uh…"
"Well, hi Uh, it's nice to meet you.
Ya must be cold out here."
"... Yeah."
He's not like the stories make him out to be. He might be able to carry Mars on his shoulders but… he's just a guy. One single guy.
"I could grab us some hot cocoa if you want."
"... Yeah."
He returns instantly with two cups in his hands from the Ace O' Clubs.
"Trust me, best hot cocoa in the world."
"Thanks."
He takes a sip, swallows, and holds the cup in between both hands like he's trying to cuddle up and stay warm.
He looks off into the distance to the sun, a smirk stretched right 'cross his face cheek to cheek, spit-curl sat right atop his forehead.
"Beautiful, isn't it?"
"Yeah."
"Why are you up here?"
"I don't know. Just came up here to think. I'm not a jumper if that's why you were here."
"I know you're not. What are you thinking about?"
"Just… life. Y'know?"
"Yeah, I know."
"This is really good hot chocolate."
"Haha, I told you."
His smile is so bright, so full of life.
"Can I… ask you a question?"
"Shoot it."
"How do you do it?"
"What is it?"
"How do you stay so hopeful, all the time?"
"I don't think cynicism and hate's ever helped anybody. I think people need something to believe in. Someone to believe in. Someone to remind them that they can do better, that they can be better, a role model, a friend, a sign of hope when they feel hopeless. And I want to be that for them. I don't have to, but I want to."
"So… why me?"
"What do you mean?"
"Why sit down with me when you could be doing so much more right now?"
"... I don't know. You seemed like you needed to talk."
"Thanks. So I have another question, but you don't have to answer it if you don't want to."
"You're making me nervous… go ahead."
"Is there, like, a Mrs. Superman out there or something?"
He takes a second to look back at the sun, though it's long set by now. His smile gets even brighter, and he even chuckles a little bit.
"Not yet, why? Do you have anybody you'd like to volunteer?"
"No, but that Lane chick at The Planet seems to write about you a lot."
He looks at me and winks.
"Oh my god, are you serious?"
"Don't tell anyone."
"I promise."
"Good. Now, I gotta get going soon. It's been a nice chat."
"Yeah. Have a good night."
"You, too. And enjoy the rest of that hot cocoa."
And before I can even respond he's gone. Nothing more than a black silhouette in front of the bright moon sitting at the end of the street.
But that hope he brought didn't leave when he did. I don't feel cold, either. Or sad, or lonely. No, I feel hopeful. And maybe that's the way it should be.
The end.