The Fallen

 

For the past 3 months, the mall at the beach was his place of investigation. He would go there after work hours even though he had lost his job when he started this and walk around until 10 pm when the guards went around asking everyone to leave. He never bought anything. How could he? He there was no pay check coming in only the piles of bills. Sure, he was in his early 30s and would probably find another job, but he messed up really bad and there was no way this last company would give him a letter of recommendation. There was only one way to relieve himself from this situation – jumping.

He had read articles about why people decide to die by suicide and for sure his family, especially his ex-fiancée, would find it difficult to imagine the reason – the would be no letter. It would be quick. It had to be.

While he was researching about suicide, he came across an article that read that the most common mental health condition behind a person's decision to die by suicide is severe depression. Depression can make people feel high levels of emotional pain and loss of hope, making them unable to see any other way to find relief than ending their own life. Another reason a person may decide to take their own life is when facing a loss or the fear of a loss. When people have lost all hope and don't feel able to change this hopelessness, it can overshadow all of the good things in their life, making suicide seem like a viable option. If a person has chronic pain or illness with no hope of a cure or reprieve from suffering, suicide may seem like a way to regain dignity or control of their life. Of all of these reasons losing his job and feeling like a failure was his biggest reason. He wasn´t depressed, he had lost all hope.

How could he marry this sweet lovely woman and provide for the future family if he had nothing to bring to the table?

His mind was set. For three months he stayed at the mall pretending to be at work. He checked how the mall closed and when the guards reached the 4^th floor to make sure everyone had left. There were some places the guards did not bother to look at and he could hide there. Around 10 pm he could put his plan into action.

While on the 4^th floor he would look down and see that he would have to jump aiming towards the coffee shop. It was the lowest level which made the 4^th floor turn into the 5^th.

The day had arrived. The mall speakers announced closing time. All the stores were shutting closing for the day. The guards were on the way up. Smoothly he placed his slim body over the railing. He stopped for a second and noticed a pretty young girl wiping the tables at the coffee shop. He didn´t want to traumatize her, but he had no choice.

As the guards yelled and ran towards him, he let go.

 

Written: January 21, 2024 (based on a true story, however, the reason why is a work of fiction)

Google Images

 

The Fall

 

It had been only two days since she had moved from the countryside to a beach town. Her lucky stars were shining bright like diamonds because today was her very first day at her new job. Never in a million years would she imagine finding a job on her very first day in this quaint but busy beach town.

She would work the afternoon shift (3 pm to 10 pm) in this busy café in the busiest mall of the city, which was rated to serving the best coffee in the city. In the morning she would be able to go for a walk along the shore, prepare a nice healthy lunch and then get ready for work. She really enjoyed working with people and loved the smell of freshly brewed coffee so this would be a piece of cake. (pun intended)

Since she had found herself a job, she would now be able to rent a small room for herself. Her aunt had invited her to stay with them until she had found a job. What a lucky girl! Her family was very proud of her and promised to go to the coffee shop after she had gotten used to the work.

First day on the job, she did splendidly and the customers seemed to be pleased. Her boss was happy with her and praised her during the day. At 10 pm the mall closed, she and her co-workers needed to clean up. She was cleaning the tables while some were in the kitchen and others the counter of leftover sweets and savory food – the boss let them take some home.

She was wiping off the tables and removing the sugar and condiment holders when she heard a loud thump behind her and a terror movie scream from a co-worker at the counter of sweets. She slowly turned around and lying in the middle of the café there was a corpse. A man in his 30´s had jumped.

No wonder she was able to get this job. It was very common for people to take their lives here, therefore, those who knew this fact refused the graveyard shift (pun intended). A shiver ran up her spine. She looked up and noticed that above the café there were five stories of stores. The man must have hidden and jumped from the last floor before security had done their rounds.

Sadly, she walked home wondering why some one would take their lives like that.

 

Written: January 17, 2024 (based on a true story)

Google Image ( It is the actual coffee shop
 - in the hole at the bottom- at the mall
where people have taken their lives)

Miracle

 

On a sunny Saturday morning filled with gratitude she got up, opened the window and said hello to the world.

After getting all prepped up for the long day, she brewed a cup of coffee and headed out to her mom´s – about a 20-minute drive.

Feeling good about the coming events, she chatted and smiled and enjoyed her day.

Around 4pm, exhausted from driving to a restaurant, a theater, and drugstores, she drove home.

When she opened her kitchen door, she noticed something strange, she had forgotten the stove burner on. She needed to sit down, all the negative things that could´ve happened filled her mind making her a bit dizzy. She had left home at 9am and only returned 7 hours later. A true miracle. The pan on top of the burner did not burn (this pan usually burns after a few minutes on the burner every morning); the wind did not blow out the burner leading to a gas leak; the home could have caught on fire; so many things could´ve happened.

Gratitude filled her heart and she prayed giving thanks for the miracle.

 

Written: November 18, 2023 (true story)

Google Images

New Year

 

Another year has begun, for that I am grateful. However, during the festivities my heart did not rejoice as much as prior years. Don´t get me wrong, I was happy to be with my loved ones, even though dad wasn´t physically present, nor my middle sister nor her immediate family who stayed in the country.

As I was driving to the New Year´s Eve party, I saw the homeless and those at war came to mind. I was well-dressed and all prepped up to eat a fabulous feast with my family while these people have nothing except loss, suffering and pain.

The New Year brings along hope for better times, nonetheless, it´s just another calendar day, the earth has completed its 365-day trip around the sun, making it a holiday when most businesses are closed. However, not everyone gets the day oof, there are those who need to work in order to keep us safe. To you, I applaud and thank you.

Although last night I may have felt odd, I felt or better, I am grateful for all that I am, all that I have, being given another day to make a difference. I pray for those in pain.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Written: January 1, 2024

Google Images

THANKS!!!!!

 

Thank you so much to all of you readers out there who read wat I posted in 2023.

I really do appreciate the comments.

Please share this blog with friends and family.

I also have an Instagram where I share what I am doing in my writing career in Portuguese and English. In addition to recommending books that I have read.

Hope 2024 is filled with interesting and fun stories!

Thanks again!

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