This was it. The end of a life I never learned to love.

A life that brought me nothing more than pain, full of people that don‘t care about me because the only one that did had died a few months ago.

Without her I had no reason left to keep living this life. It hurt. And I wasn‘t strong enough to continue like this.

This was it, I thought again and took a deep breath. This was the end of my story.

“Excuse me? Hello!“ a voice called after me. I was just going to let go of the bridge as I startled and my grip strengthened. Now I could hear footsteps approaching, a fast but not hasty rhythm, accompanied by the sound of high heels.

I glanced to the side, my heart beating faster due to my shock and surprise. It was the middle of the night, in a village no one who didn’t live here knew by name. Meeting someone here and at the exact same moment I wanted to end my life was a hell of a coincidence.

A woman was approaching me. Although the light of the street lamp was already illuminating us enough, there was something about her that made her seem to light up from the inside. She seemed brighter than she should be.

I blinked and shook my head. Now that was impossible and definitely due to my lack of sleep, I thought.

She stopped right next to me and smiled.

"Hello, El.“ she said and I felt my heart skip a beat. My hands began to sweat as I shook my head.

"You can‘t stop me. I made my decision.“

She continued to smile and I realized suddenly how beautiful she was. Her long, dark hair was moving although there was no wind to move it. The clothes she wore were well cared for and seemed to be made for her.

But her eyes were her most beautiful feature. They seemed to change their color with every move she made.

I stared at her without meaning to.

"I need your help, El.“ she continued. "I‘m Venus. The Goddess of Love. And I have been looking for you for a long time now."

Right. Of course.

"And you are the only one who can stop the Apocalypse.“

I stared at her with an open mouth. She seemed serious, just kept on smiling like I was something she had been looking for all her life.

Well. If I was to believe her story I apparently was something she had been searching for a while now.

I turned my head, looked down at the water and tried to decide if I should just ignore her and jump.

Or maybe indulge her for today? I could still end everything tomorrow.

I looked at her again. She was now holding out her hands, still with a smile on her face but this time it was softer. More understanding.

I made my decision. My hands let go.