girl interrupted

today, i stopped a woman from attempting to jump off the 6th floor. literally, i held her back. my body was shaking from the endorphin rush but i had to show her no fear. she was so upset, coz she had a bad leg and couldn't make it over the short hump to the ledge unassisted. but she was upset to begin with, eyes all red with unhappiness. upset with life.

i reached out to her. i asked how i could help her, she said i could help her jump. i told her i could not do that. i moved her away from the ledge into a room, but she didn't feel comfortable. i could see the thoughts racing in her troubled head. i told her i am not a counsellor but i care and i wanted to truly help her. she ignored me.

i spent the next 4 hours with her. i called the psych doctor, a counsellor and some trained nurses. all took turns to talk to her but she was bent on her plan. didn't want to budge. every now and then, she'd shoot me the look of betrayal. her eyes screamed,"i thot you wanted to help me!". for a moment, i felt like judas, betraying trust. after a while, i didn't make eye contact anymore.

i met her as i was walking back from the toilet. i could have walked right past her, but the look of pain on her tired face was familiar. we've all had bad days and have dabbled in depression. but her expression said she had enuf. literature says not to leave a suicidal person alone. ethics echos the fact. i'm sorry for foiling her plan, but i'm not sorry for interrupting.