The moon hung low in the night sky, its pale light shimmering across the rippling waters of the river. Ethan trudged along the bridge, his hands buried deep in his pockets to guard against the biting wind. His steps were slow and aimless, the weight of his failures dragging at his feet like chains.
His life felt like a cruel joke—dead-end jobs, mounting debts, and a long list of broken dreams. At twenty-four, he was no closer to success than he had been as a child dreaming of greatness. He sighed, staring out at the inky black river. For a brief, fleeting moment, he wondered what it would feel like to let go.
But then, a flicker of movement caught his eye.
At the far end of the bridge stood a woman, her figure silhouetted against the moonlit water. Her long hair swayed gently in the wind, and her arms hung limp by her sides. Ethan's chest tightened as realization struck—she wasn't just enjoying the view. She was standing on the ledge.
Without thinking, Ethan broke into a sprint. The sound of his boots pounding against the wooden bridge echoed in the silence.
"Hey!" he shouted, his voice hoarse with panic. "What are you doing?"
The woman turned her head slightly, her face half-hidden by her dark hair. She didn't answer, nor did she step down from the ledge. Her eyes, even in the dim light, held an emptiness that sent a chill through Ethan.
He slowed as he neared her, raising his hands in a placating gesture. "Listen, whatever's going on, this isn't the way. Let's talk about it, okay?"
The woman's lips curved into a bitter smile. "Talk? What's there to talk about? Life is cruel. People are cruel. And nothing ever changes."
Ethan swallowed hard. He didn't have answers—hell, his own life was a mess—but he couldn't stand by and watch someone give up. "You're right. Life can be cruel," he admitted, his voice softer now. "But there's always a chance for it to get better. Even if it's just a sliver of hope, isn't that worth holding on to?"
Her gaze lingered on him, her expression unreadable. "You talk like you know what it's like to want to end it all."
Ethan chuckled dryly. "I don't just know it—I live it. My life's a disaster. I'm broke, jobless, and probably the least qualified person to give advice right now. But even on my worst days, I tell myself there's still time to turn things around. Maybe I'll fail again tomorrow, but there's always the day after that."
For a moment, silence stretched between them, broken only by the gentle lapping of the river. Then, to Ethan's utter disbelief, the woman stepped down from the ledge.
She faced him fully for the first time, and he was struck by how stunning she was. Her pale skin seemed almost luminous in the moonlight, and her piercing eyes carried a depth of sadness that made his heart ache.
"What's your name?" she asked abruptly.
"Ethan," he said, relieved she was finally engaging. "What's yours?"
"Lila."
"Well, Lila, I'm glad you—"
"I want to marry you," she interrupted, her tone flat and matter-of-fact.
Ethan blinked, certain he'd misheard her. "What?"
"You said there's still time to turn things around, didn't you?" Her expression was serious, almost defiant. "So, marry me. Right now."
Ethan's jaw dropped. "Wait a second. Marry you? I just met you! You were literally about to—"
"Do you believe in fate, Ethan?" Lila asked, cutting him off again.
He hesitated. "I… don't know."
"I do," she said firmly. "And if you're the one who stopped me tonight, then maybe you're the one who can handle me. So, let's get married."
Ethan stared at her, completely dumbfounded. Was she insane? Or was he dreaming? But the intensity in her eyes made it clear she wasn't joking.
Before he could respond, Lila grabbed his hand and started pulling him toward the bridge's exit. "Come on. The courthouse opens at sunrise."
"Wait! I didn't even say yes!" Ethan protested, stumbling after her.
"You will," she said confidently, not bothering to look back.
As the wind picked up around them, Ethan couldn't shake the feeling that his life was about to change forever. Little did he know, the strange woman dragging him into a courthouse was only the beginning.