Jessie - Vivian Leung Siu Bing
Andy - Sunny Chan Kam Hung
Setting: A secluded beach in Hong Kong.
The man stepped out on the balcony of his beach condo. His parents had left it to him for the summer since they were on vacation. He stretched his arms as he stared at the beautiful orange sunrise. Smiling to himself as he breathe in a lung full of fresh air. 'What a beautiful morning!' he told himself.
His relaxing meditation was interrupted by a noticable crowd of people gathering at a nearby pier. It was too far for him to see what was going on. He saw a young couple running towards the pier as the girl confided in her boyfriend "That girl's going to jump!"
That was enough for the young man to race down his steps leading to the beach. His condo was about a few yards from the beginning of the pier. As he reached to the end, he pushed his way through the crowd as he looked for the girl at the end of the pier. Her back was turned to the crowd as a few people tried to coax her back to safety. She looked to be around her mid twenties, he guessed. She was standing on the other side of the rail, one hand holding onto the bar. He still couldn't see her face, but she seemed calm eventhough there were about 30 people watching her.
He pushed his way closer to her, he was trained to do this kind of stuff. Afterall he was an emergency medical attendant. "Miss?" he asked softly at first. When she didn't acknowledge him, he took a step closer. "Miss, you're not going to jump are you?"
Without turning her head, she said the words ever so softly "Leave me alone."
He turned back to the crowd, motioning for them to back off. A few people remained close by, eager to see the situation before them. "Can you at least tell me what happened?" the guy was patient. He wasn't about to let a life go to waste for no apparent reason.
"Its none of your business." her voice was as calm as can be. Yet there was a hint of anger or was it sadness? He couldn't tell without looking at her face.
"Sure it isn't. But what about your family? Or loved ones?" he wanted to get through to her so bad.
"I don't have any." he thought he heard her voice quiver. "He left me." she said simply.
"Who did? Your boyfriend?" he was right on the nose.
She nodded her head slowly. Taking a deep breathe, she turned to face him "Why do men change so fast?" her question caught him by surprise. This was about love, he thought. Searching his mind for what he should be telling her according to his training for suicide emergencies. But he couldn't remember anything, he decided to go with what his heart was telling him.
He looked at her in the eye "Not all men change" he wasn't sure what else to say to her. She looked so lost and innocent.
"Well then, why did he change?" she turned back to the ocean.
He thought quickly, wondering if she would jump. "Maybe he wasn't the one for you? I mean fate brings you people that you fall in love with and it doesn't necessarily mean that that person will fall in love with you. Its not anyone's fault, don't torture yourself because of one man's ignorace to see the good side of you."
"Hmph!" she snickered, her smile crooked "Good side. If I had one, maybe he wouldn't have left me."
"Everyone has a good side. I've known people to be great at times yet they don't know it until the right person tells them. If you don't give someone else a chance, how will you ever know? Dying is not a solution, its a way to escape your troubles. Life isn't perfect." his voice blended in with the crashing waves. A few people in the crowd began to whisper among themselves. Turning around to hush them as he put up a finger to his lips.
"I suppose you're right. If dying was the key, maybe everyone that was hearbroken would not be here anymore." the young girl seemed to be thinking logically.
Surprise by her changed in attitude, he continued "If you don't mind, I will help you until you get better or when you're happy again." Reaching out his hand, he waited patiently for her to respond.
For what seemed like an hour, she stood there behind the bars motionless for a few minutes. Everyone holding their breaths to see if she would let him help her or jump to her death. Her hand raising slowly as she reached for his hand. At the touch of her hand, he squeezed it tightly as he helped her over the bar. Everyone applauded at a job well done for the young guy.
Still holding onto her hand, he led her back down to the beach. Silence was deafening as she walked beside him, not saying a word. He finally spoke up "My name is Andy, by the way."
"Jessie." she said softly.
He suddenly realized how plainly beautiful she was. Her cheeks were the perfect pink from the cool ocean breeze which was blowing at their faces. Her hair was long, straight and silky. She was quite petite, he knew his guess in her age was correct, she couldn't be older than thirty.
"Do you want to talk about him?" he dared to ask.
She stopped in her track as she looked up at him "You really want to know?" she asked.
He nodded sincerely "Of course, I wouldn't ask if I didn't want to know. But I will respect your decision to tell me or not."
Jessie smiled considerably as she motioned for him to sit with her on the sand. He did so as she began her description of this ex-boyfriend that left her so heartbroken that she had to find death. Andy listened intently as she talked on and on about the little things he did for her that made her fall for him. This guy seemed as normal as can be, maybe a bit careless in Andy's eyes. He couldn't help but wonder what else was there that made her love him so much?
For about a month, he met with her in front of his condo almost everyday. Jessie easily opened up to him as she talked about her feelings, he was almost like her own personal shrink. Except she didn't have to pay him any money and he was absolutely sincere, not to mention the best listener she ever met.
Andy never once felt like it was part of his job. Nor did he feel the need to 'help' her. He just wanted to listen to her, wondering what would make a person want to ever leave this earth. Maybe it was his lack in the love department that made him so interested in this young girl. At age 27, he's never dated any girl longer than a month. Girls were considered time consuming to him. Never would he have thought in a million years that he would be sitting with a girl and listening to her talk about everything she ever knew about life and love.
After a month, Jessie grew attached to Andy, she looked forward to their walk every morning on the beach as she let her feelings out in the open. It felt good, almost refreshing to have a friend again. But was he just a friend? She began to ask this question everytime she saw him. Her stomach would flip with anticipation when she waited for him on the beach.
While for Andy, this experience has brought him to a new level of discovering himself. He was in love with this girl. It was a little over a month before he realized this, she was the first person he thought of when he woke up and the last thought before he slept. He often asked himself if it was because of the way they met, maybe he just felt like he had to protect her. Whatever the reason was, he knew he couldn't possibly love anyone else more than Jessie.
After another week of questioning his feelings, he came down with a conclusion. It had to be love. He was excited to express his feelings. Not thinking once if she liked him more than a friend, Andy began to plan out the night he would tell her of his true feelings. It was Sunday morning when he called Jessie at her home, which was a few miles from his condo. "Hey Jess, I can't make it this morning. I was called in early this morning by the hospital, they needed extra help. Im on my break right now. How about we do dinner instead?"
She was easy going since her plans were always cancelled at the last minute. Jessie was so use to it. "Of course, anytime you're free. My days are open for you." she was flirting with him. She finally felt that she could be herself around him after so many conversations. A fun loving girl and very easy to get along with, she was almost like the ideal girlfriend. It made Andy wonder why that guy would ever leave such a sweet girl?
That night he set up a beautiful dinner picnic on the beach especially for Jessie. Buying long red candles and a little radio where he will play the love song by Leon Lai 'There's not a day I don't think about you.' The candles were placed in a big heart shape in the sand below his condo. A tiny picnic basket with wine and little sandwiches for snacks. He would later take her the most expensive and beautiful restaurant in the city.
He had reminded her earlier to dress nice because he was taking her to a nice restaurant. Wearing a beautiful deep torquoise blue dress that flowed to her ankles. Her slender arms bare from any material. Her necklace was the perfect size silver cross on a thin silver chain. It seemed to sparkle in the moonlight as she walked along the beach. The trail was very familiar to her now. Comfortable as she came closer to his condo. She instantly noticed the lit candles shaped into a heart. The butterflies flipped in her stomach as she saw him in a perfect black suit and silver shirt and a tie with the darker shade of silver. He looked like a perfect gentleman, she smiled when she saw him. His face instantly lit up at her beautiful smile.
"What's this special occasion?" she asked, a little suprised.
"Come over here and I'll tell you." he couldn't help but look at her up and down. She was breathtakingly beautiful in her dress. Stepping into the center of the heart as he held out his hand to help her in. She pulled up her dress to her knees as she carefully stepped over the burning candles. The wind was perfectly calm that night, as if the wind knew it was a special night.
Slipping easily into an embrace, they stayed that way for a few minutes before Andy pulled himself away. Pulling out a tiny control from his inside pocket, pointing to a tiny radio on his left. He turned it on and threw the control aside as he placed his hand around her waist and their other hand entwined as they began to sway to the music. They looked like the perfect couple, so content with everything.
Gazing into her brown eyes as he began expressing his hidden feelings "Jess, I know its not been that long since I've met you. But over the past month, I got a chance to really understand you. I know you got a chance to know the real me too. Ive been fighting this feeling that has been growing inside of me for over a week now. I couldn't think of the perfect things to say to you, but I will be honest. My last relationships were useless and careless. Ive never ever cared for any girl half as much as I cared for you. Just seeing your smile makes me feel so content that at times it scares me. I start to wonder what that new feeling is. I came up with a conclusion to all this. Its because I have fallen in love."
Tears welling up in her eyes at Andy's beautiful words. "Thank you." she said simply. When she noticed that he seemed to be waiting for her to continue, she quickly searched for the right words. "Although the last relationship left me somewhat shipwrecked. I couldn't help but wonder when you put out your hand to help me, if you did it because you felt like you had to. But the more I talked to you, the more I realized that it was just Andy being Andy. Your words seemed to remind me everyday that there is another chance at love for me. I would be more than happy if you were that chance." her words were simple yet full of hidden meanings.
Resting her head on his chest as they continued to sway along with the music. That night they had their unforgettable dinner. It was a beginning of a beautiful relationship.
After a month of the newfound love, Andy asked Jessie to move into his condo with him. He missed her terribly when she was at work. He constantly told her that, but she's only said it to him a few times. But never once did he doubt her feelings for him. Maybe he wanted her to love him so much that he covered his doubts with trust. Jessie agreed without question to moving in with him. He was more than estactic, like a little kid buying his first candy bar. Their adapting to each other's lives couldn't be more perfect. She was an interesting little cook and he tried everything she made. Even the ones that smelled bad.
Another month has past and the new couple seemed to be more in love than ever. They were tracing their steps to the pier one hot morning when Andy stopped "How about some ice cream?" he asked wide eyed.
Laughing at his kiddish face, she nodded "Sure, I like.."
"Strawberry!" he exclaimed.
Shaking her head as he ran off to the ice cream parlor a quarter of a mile away. Turning back to the ocean, she leaned onto the bars that once tempted her to jump over. Her face turned solemn at the thought of her ex-boyfriend. He hasn't once left her mind since that suicidle attempt. Maybe it was the question of why he left her that still lingered in her heart. He never told her why and she never found out. Maybe it was all fate that she didn't find out.
He stood their with two ice cream cones. He stopped, seeing the sad expression on her face. It was the first time in months that he wondered if she was really happy being with him. Quickly brushing away any worries as he put on his smile and ran over to her "Cold ice cream on the way!"
Jessie instantly smiled at the sound of his voice. Turning around to take her ice cream, she noticed that he was gazing at her face. "What's wrong?" she asked before biting into her ice cream.
"I..." he debated whether he should ask her. Not wanting to make the mood go sour he decided not to. Shaking his head "nothing."
"No, I want to know." she asked curiously.
"I just wanted to kiss you thats all." he said teasingly.
"Oh, well, you've never asked my permission before." she teased back. His eyes wide as he took a huge lick on his chocolate ice cream before leaning over and kissing her on the cheek. "EWW!!!" she yelled out in disbelief as she attempted to wipe the sticky ice cream off her cheek. Without thinking she took her own ice cream and stuck it on his forehead.
He seemed to take it well as he wiped the cream with his finger and licked it. He smiled when she gave him a look of disgust. He took his ice cream and rubbed it on his lips, the melted cream dripping onto the cemented pier. His big smile made her laugh as she tried to run away from his attempt to kiss her again. They looked like little kids having fun on a playground. Some onlookers stared in envy at the couple.
A few days later, while Andy was at work, Jessie stayed home. She took a vacation day from work to relax a bit and to take a long walk. It seemed like a very long day to her as she strolled down the beach. Her thoughts were going back to her ex boyfriend again. There was something she was debating for a couple of days now and finally, she made up her mind that afternoon. Walking back to the condo, she went to her bedroom. Sitting on her tiny desk, she pulled out some white sheet of paper and began writing.
Later that day, Andy came home anxious to spend another night with Jessie. He ran to her room, knocking on the door with a huge smile on his face. When it was quiet, he slowly opened it. Expecting to see her sleeping or something, but the room was empty. Not a trace of her being there except her desk chair was pulled out. Immediately, Andy noticed the piece of paper as he picked it up to read it:
"Andy, my dearest. What can I say? I've been lying to myself for the past three months. Not to mention lying to you too. Im sorry. I really didn't mean for it to go this far. I know you truly did love me, unfortunately I could not say the same to you. I wanted to love you, I really did. But I knew in the end that I couldn't bring myself to lie to you. Afterall, you have given me one of the most memorable days in my life. Still, I could not bare to let myself to believe that I could start all over again. He means too much to me. Maybe you find it odd that I would love someone who does not love me? But I find it even more difficult to believe that someone like you could possibly love me. Anyways, its always hard to say goodbye. But this time it will be quick and painless, I hope with all my heart that you will go on. I know there is someone out there for you, its just not me. I had a chance to think a lot this whole day, about what I wanted to do with my life. My mind went blank. There is nothing else I could do in this world that could make me happy. I've always enjoyed the beach, I guess thats one thing we will always and forever have in common. I couldn't imagine anyone else out there that I would want to find my body. I know its selfish of me to leave you this image of me, but I believe that you proved to be stronger than anyone that I have ever met. When you hear the ocean waves crashing to shore, don't be alarmed or scared, its just my laughter. Because in the beach is where I am trully happy. You will always be in my heart. Love, Jessie."
Dried tear drops on the piece of paper were covered with new drops from Andy. Putting down the piece of paper, he hoped with all his heart that she didn't do what he thought she did. He walked to her bathroom, which was located in the corner of her bedroom. Opening the door slowly, he found Jessie, lying in a pool of blood. The cut was perfectly lined across her wrist. Closing his eyes at the heartwrenching scene, he slowly opened them hoping that it was all an illusion. But to his dismay, she was still laying there. Walking over to her as he carefully picked her up. His tears still falling as he looked at her pale and peaceful face.
She was creamated within days, holding the urn that carried her ashes in his hand. He walked to the end of the pier, opening it carefully as he spread it along the quiet ocean. Smiling to himself for the first time since he last saw her, he knew that was where she wanted to be. He walked back to his condo, well, it's soon to be empty. Andy decided to move to another city. The beach would only remind him of Jessie. Walking through the door one last time as he stopped, the waves were crashing onto the shore. He turned around and closed his eyes, taking in the mesmerizing sound of the waves. He could almost here her laughing.
**This is dedicated to those that have at one time or another wanted to leave this world. But I hope that before you do, think of those that you are leaving behind. It would be more painful for them to lose you. I promise.**
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