The Untold Story of Levi Wright

The Untold Story of Levi Wright
Madison Critchfield


Chapter 1
“We have a jumper on overpass 45.”

A nice, cool breeze blew by me, bringing the scent of a warm and damp autumn day. The cool scent of the trees changing and the damp colorful leaves slowly decaying into the moist earth below filled the air with comfort. The scent made me think. How did it feel? How did it feel to slowly decay? To fade from the vibrancy of youth to the bland color of death. How did it feel to lie down on the damp dirt and allow yourself to deteriorate? Was it peaceful? What would you think of? Who would you think of? Who would think of you?
I guess that’s how I got up on this overpass. That haunting question of how it felt to die. My mind came to just enough to listen to the frantic sounds of fear and sympathy. As stream of crimson blood ran down my right arm, dropping down to the road below, I processed what they had come to do.
The sirens had died down yet the bright flashing lights remained. The police had closed down the bridge and escorted the other civilians off of the road. Somewhere down the highway, around a bend, the faint flash of blue and red lights could be seen, telling me that it wasn’t just a slow day on the freeway. Some of the civilians were concerned but a few were just plain annoyed. I could hear conversations, yet they were only mummers to me. To my right  I could tell they were strapping an officer into a harness. Did they really think I’d want to take someone with me?
She probably had a loving family, friends, and someone to cry to who would listen. She had her whole life ahead of her. She had more important people to save. There are people out here who are hanging onto the last shred of life, people who are out on the street trying to get by. I knew how they felt I was once in there shoes before. She should be saving someone who is innocent and didn’t deserve death. Someone who didn’t deserve to get screwed by this hell called reality. Instead she’s wasting her time on me.
“Levi Wright? My name is Audrey Evans. I’m with the Washington Strategic Response Unit. I’m here to help you with whatever is troubling you.” Hooked onto the side of the railing, she kept her distance. Her voice was soft and sympathetic. “Can you tell me how you got those cuts on your arm?”
“I hurt myself,” a smirk appeared on my face. It was plain and simple. I deserved to be cut, bruised, beaten and left for dead. Another gust of wind of wind blew, this time hitting my back, seemingly trying to push me off of the edge. I smelled the scent of fall again. It was peaceful and welcoming.
I looked around at the trees. Reds and yellows danced and combined eloquently with the greens of the trees that revisited their fate. They held onto their youth. They were not ready for the acceptance of death. Some trees took it as a thing to be celebrated, painting themselves a vibrant reddish-purple that would catch ones attention in a heartbeat. The sky was covered in a grey, depressing clouds. The air had the scent of rain and decay and the clouds looked as if they were not finished with watering the earth. It felt as if it could wash away all of my pain. It could wash away the lies and abuse that controlled my life.
The road below me was wet and deserted. The only thing that would travel on this asphalt today would be the ambulance that takes my remains to the morgue. The crumpled mess of the man I used to be, covered in the blood of someone who was never supposed exists.
“Can you tell me what you plan on doing today?” Her voice works its way into my head, pulling me back to the present, back to this overpass.
“Why would anyone climb over the railing of an overpass over a busy highway below? Why would they take a knife to themselves and watch as they bleed out? Why?” I looked over to her, finally putting a face to the voice. Her hair was tied into a ponytail. A lock of brown amber hung alone against her face seeming to draw attention to her eyes. They were a beautiful brown that was captivating. Her expression was nothing more than one given by a mother, yearning for her child to be happy. Her soft features gave an angelic glow, despite her clothing. She wore her uniform that was much different than a normal officer. Dark blue in color and with many places to conceal weapons she was hooked to the railing by a harness.
“I don’t exactly know why, Levi. That’s what I’m here to find out. Why don’t you come down and we can talk? We can get someone to help stitch up your arm and work things out with you.” Her voice was hopeful, but we both knew in the back of our minds that wasn’t going to happen. I wasn’t going to be talked down that easily.
“I can’t exactly do that, Mrs. Evans.” I looked back down to the road. “I’m done with trying to talk. No one was there for me before and they’re not going to be here now.” I went into my pocket and felt something cold. Pulling out a small letter opener, it was still red with the blood from my arm.
“Levi, can you tell me what you’re planning to do with that?” Her voice was more frantic now, and I could tell she was stepping closer.
Smiling, I held the blade in my hand, watching the blood slip off its silver edge. I thought back to the first time I cut. The rush and relief I felt as the blade bit into my skin. The feeling of all my pain slipping away into a state of bliss. After that day I was hooked like a meth addict. It was the only way I could feel happy, it was the only way I could find peace. It allowed me to release all of my anger and frustration and pain from being used and abused. It was the first time I ever felt peace. After that day I began cut as a terrible but blissful addiction. I felt as if everything in my life that was out to destroy me suddenly slipped away. Sitting on the edge, I wanted to feel that way again.
“I want to feel happy again.” Without a moment’s hesitation, I watched in a daze as my hand grabbed the knife’s handle and plunge it into my scared arm. The tracks of my new cuts still shined brightly next to the collection of a new blood puddle seeping down my arm.  I could feel the blade slicing into my arm. I ripped the knife out and watched as the pain and troubles that clouded my mind drained out of my body and onto the street far below. After what seemed like an eternity of bliss, my hearing and mind came back to reality. I could hear my name being called out, trying to determine if I was okay. I was more than okay, I was happy. All of my troubles and pain of my life had been taken away.
“Levi?” I could hear Audrey’s voice scream, but I wasn’t listening anymore, I was in a trance. Slowly standing, I began to balance on the railing, holding onto a nearby light pole. Wrapping my unwounded arm around it, I looked down at the road below, my toes hanging over the edge. “Levi, I know you think this is the answer to your problems but it’s not.” Her voice was closer now, to close for comfort. Suddenly without a thought I lifted up my bleeding arm and pointed the knife to where she stood.
“I kill myself.” Staring down to the road below, I thought back to the time when all of my pain started.