Sarah sat in her classroom, tapping her pencil against the desk. The teacher was writing something on the board, but she wasn't paying attention. It was just another regular day. She sighed and looked at the clock. The school day was almost over.
The door burst open. A teacher ran inside, her face pale.
"Sarah, you have a call from your brother's school. It's urgent."
Sarah's heart dropped. She grabbed her bag and ran out of the room. She reached the teacher's office and picked up the phone.
"Hello?"
A woman's voice came through. "Sarah, this is Mrs Mary, Michael's teacher. Your brother is on the roof. He's threatening to jump."
Sarah didn't wait to hear anything else. She dropped the phone and ran. Her legs moved before her mind could catch up. Her school was close to Michael's. She sprinted down the street, ignoring anything else.
She saw the school in the distance. Teachers and students stood outside, looking up. Sarah's chest tightened. She didn't slow down. She reached the gate, climbed over it, and ran through the hallway. She pushed past people who are in her way.
She burst onto the roof.
Michael stood near the edge. His head was down.
Teachers stood back, whispering to each other. Some students watched, frozen.
Sarah's throat felt tight. "Michael!"
Michael flinched and turned around. His eyes widened when he saw her.
"Sis? What are you doing here?"
Sarah walked closer. "Mrs. Mary called me."
Michael's eyes darkened. He turned back to the edge. "You shouldn't be here. I don't want you to see this."
Sarah swallowed hard. "Michael, please. Don't do this. Come back."
Michael gripped his arms tighter. "I can't."
Sarah took another step. "Yes, you can. Just take my hand. We'll go home. We'll talk. Please."
Michael shook his head. "You don't understand. No one does."
Sarah's hands curled into fists. "Then make me understand. Tell me why you're doing this."
Michael let out a heavy breath. "I'm tired, Sarah. I can't do this anymore. Every day is the same. They push me, they laugh, they call me names. I try to be strong, but I'm not. I just want it to stop."
Sarah's eyes burned. "Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you tell Mom and Dad?"
Michael laughed bitterly. "Mom and Dad? They're always working. They don't have time. And you… You're busy too. I didn't want to bother you."
Sarah shook her head. "You're not a bother. You're my brother. You're the most important person in my life."
Michael's shoulders trembled. "I just… I don't want to feel like this anymore."
Sarah took another step. "Then let me help you."
Michael looked at her. His eyes were filled with pain. "It's too late."
Sarah's breath caught. "No, it's not."
Michael turned back to the edge.
Sarah's heart pounded. "Think about Mom and Dad. You always said you didn't want to see them sad. You always said you wanted to make them proud. Was that a lie?"
Michael's lips trembled. "It's not a lie. But I can't take this anymore. I don't want to be here."
Sarah's vision blurred. "Then stay for me."
Michael's hands clenched. He took a step closer to the edge. "I'm sorry."
Sarah saw it happen in slow motion. His foot slipped. His body tilted forward.
She didn't think. She ran. She threw herself forward and shoved him back.
The last thing she saw was Michael's wide eyes as she fell.
The air rushed past her. The sky blurred.
Pain.
Then nothing.
Everything went dark.