Short Story #49: End of Holidays

Trigger warning: Mentions of suicide and implied suicide

"I wish that holidays would go on for another week," Raymond sighed wistfully.

Michael puffed out a laugh. "I wish it would go on forever!"

"That'd be great. Then we won't have go to school anymore and we could just enjoy our lives without any worries," Harry stared at the beautiful night sky adorned with bright, twinkling stars.

"Even without school, I still have to worry about paying my phone bills!" Michael snorted out a good-natured laugh. "Tessa loves to chat for hours without end."

Silence then seeped the air surrounding the quartet as they dangled their legs over the parapet wall on the rooftop. People from below would view them as reckless and bold delinquents while the more jumpy ones would think they were contemplating suicide. It would be hilarious either way.

"Have you guys ever thought what it would be like to be free from all responsibilities?" Nathan's sudden comment snapped the other boys from their reverie. They all swung their heads to glance at Nathan.

"Well...I've never thought about that," Harry admitted.

"Yeah...I mean..." Raymond paused as if considering his next words carefully. "Isn't it impossible to live without having responsibilities?"

Despite being the first one to always question the odd comments in the group, Michael remained unusually quiet. He had been friends with Nathan for more than ten years, the longest friendship in the group but even till this day, he still viewed Nathan as an enigma. Just when he thought he figured the other boy out, the other would effortlessly throw an odd comment, making him go back to square one.

Nathan turned his head to face the other boys and gave them a strange smile. It did not reach his eyes but at the same time it did not feel fake or condescending. It just felt...that he was done. Done with everything to do in this world.

Then everything in Michael clicked. The long, vertical lines on Nathan's wrists, his deep hatred towards the education system, his clear indifference towards his parents.

Eyes widening, Michael yelled, "No, Nathan! Don't do it!"

But it was too late. As Michael desperately called for his longtime friend, Nathan rose slowly before leaning forward and falling off the rooftop.