Cold wind bites at my face as I draw in another drag from the cigarette, igniting its tip with a flicker of fire. Perched upon the rooftop, I find myself lost in contemplation. What if I could journey back through time and rewrite the narrative of my life? The cityscape sprawls before me, a canvas of possibilities. My thoughts wander, but a glance over the edge reveals a precipitous drop - five stories down. A single step could erase it all in five fleeting seconds. Five seconds to end it, five seconds to feel, to love, to live, to breathe. My musings are interrupted by the shrill ring of a phone. "Hey, it's Helgi. We're dealing with a situation here." "What's going on?" "It's Ler again." "I'll be there in ten." "Thanks, I appreci—" The call cuts abruptly. Seated, I mull over the unfairness of being drawn into this turmoil. I find myself at the edge once more, but this time, I opt to retreat, slipping on my headphones as I descend to my dorm. The scent of alcohol hangs heavy in the air as I enter, accompanied by a familiar sinking feeling. "Not again," I mutter to myself. Pausing at Ler's room, I debate letting it slide, but my hesitation is shattered by a piercing scream. Inside, Helgi is desperately attempting to reason with Ler. "What happened?!"

My musings are interrupted by the shrill ring of a phone. "Hey, it's Helgi. We're dealing with a situation here." "What's going on?" "It's Ler again." "I'll be there in ten." "Thanks, I appreci—" The call cuts abruptly. Seated, I mull over the unfairness of being drawn into this turmoil. I find myself at the edge once more, but this time, I decide to get off the slipping on my headphones as I descend to my dorm. The scent of alcohol hangs heavy in the air as I enter, accompanied by a familiar sinking feeling. "Not again," I mutter to myself. Pausing at Ler's room, I debate walking by, but my hesitation is shattered by a scream. I slam the door open and see Helgi desperately attempting to reason with Ler. "What happened?!" I shouted. "Ler got drunk again, he's trying to end his life. Please help!" Helgi pleads, her voice trembling with urgency. I join Ler on the floor, his drunken ramblings a mix of self-pity and attention-seeking. "Hey, man, what the hell are you doing?" I desperately scream. "I can't take it anymore. The voices, they won't stop, except when I'm drunk. It's madness," Ler laments, his hand pressed to his forehead, a gun within reach. "You don't have to do this. We'll face it together." Helgi pleaded "Back off, Helgi. Let me handle this. It might be best if you step out for a moment," I suggest. "Get lost, I'm staying!" Helgi spat out, a look of anger flashing in her eyes. "Then stay quiet. Ler, do you truly want to end it?" I asked, thinking about my own answer to that question. "I can't go on like this. The voices, the guilt. What have we done?" Ler muttered. "Give me the gun, Ler." "I can't. I just can't..." He pleaded "Do you want a smoke, Ler?" "Yeah, I guess." I hand Ler a cigarette, lighting it. Swiftly, I knock his head against the table and seize the gun. "Are you insane? What the hell, man?!" Ler's voice quivers. "Let me help you." I remove five bullets from the chamber, aiming at Ler. “Whoa, man, calm down. Are you crazy?” Ler screams I squeeze the trigger.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Click. Nothing. A long silence follows. Everyone just staring at the gun. "Jagan, stop!" Helgi's voice cuts through the tension. I ignore her and press the barrel against my own forehead, closing my eyes and pulling the trigger. Click. Nothing. “JAGAN! What the hell are you thinking? Are you out of your mind?" Ler screams, his previous madness forgotten. "Maybe, but at least I know what I want. I'm done here. Goodnight." "And you'll just leave us like this?" Helgi looks at me with pleading eyes "I'll also take this. Seems safer for everyone. Take care." Exiting the room, I leave Helgi tending to Ler's fragile state. The commotion has roused the floor, and a stern-faced woman confronts me. "If he doesn't quiet down, I'll call the police next time. You and your friends will end up in prison." she says scathingly. "We both know you can’t do that” I said calmly and walked briskly away. Back in my room, I slump down, turning on some music as fatigue washes over me. Dressed in my clothes, I drift into an uneasy sleep.