dan stood on the bridge, peering out over the raging water below him. it crashed against the rocks, as if it was calling him, tempting him.

he closed his eyes and dreamed. what would happen if he jumped? if he just let himself fall, plunge into the icy water? let it take over his body, fill his lungs, clog his heart. everything in him was useless anyways; every organ, every artery and vein, wasn't doing anything but keeping alive something that would much rather be dead.

without even thinking about it he climbed up, his black sneakers lodging themselves into the chain link on the railing. he climbed until his feet were balanced on the thin rail, and he could see more of what was below him.

if he fell right then, he would die, and that gave him a rush he couldn't even explain. a rush of sick joy, of pleasure and adrenaline.

the wind seemed to strengthen and it made dan's hair blow in his face, obscuring his view. he reached up and tucked the curly brown strands behind his ear. as he did so the wind knocked him off balance and he swayed, his body throbbing instinctually with fear at the threat of danger. 

he felt almost dizzy, intoxicated by how close he was. one step... that was all he needed. he would fall to the rocks below and he wouldn't have to be here anymore. no more pity, no more polite laughter at his crude jokes or awkwardly declined offers of friendship.

he was about to do it, too. his foot hovered off the metal bar, and for once he felt completely at peace. but then he heard a voice, breaking through his haze.

"what're you doing?"

dan flinched, sucking in a sharp breath of cold air and nearly falling from the ledge just from shock.

"what the fuck?" he exclaimed, grabbing onto the metal bar that protruded from the railing. he turned toward where the deep voice had come from.

it was a boy. he stood there as if he didn't have a care in the world, leaning against the same railing that dan was balancing on.

he was rather attractive, there was no denying that- in a dark, grungy way. his hair was messy and dark and his eyes seemed a cold shade of blue, like the sky on a not quite stormy day.

dan's eyes traveled over his form. his far too skinny body was covered with a dark blue jean jacket, jeans, and black combat boots that seemed far too heavy for him to have come up without being heard. he watched him with a cool expression on his face.

"what are you doing?" the boy repeated, his tone laced with something like cruel amusement.

"killing myself."

"no you aren't."

dan stared at him, shocked by that reply. soon the surprise was replaced with aggravation.

"yes i fucking am, you don't even know me," he snapped, glaring at the stranger.

the boy raised his eyebrows, a hint of a smirk melting on his features.

"that fall won't kill you."

dan blinked. "w-what?"

"it won't kill you," he repeated, as if he were speaking to a small child. it made dan even more annoyed, and his face flushed in embarrassment.

"oh..."

the boy chuckled coldly, stepping up to the rail. for a moment dan thought he might climb over, just to show him up, but he pulled his hand out of his pocket instead. in his hand was a thin gold chain, thread between his fingers. dan squinted in order to see the details properly.

"what are you doing?" dan asked back to him, his voice betraying his aggravation. the boy glanced at him, his gaze sending a chill down his spine. he reached out and dropped the chain. dan watched it fall to the rushing water below.

"getting rid of the past."