Page 27 of Obeying His Rules

“Then stay with me.” I smile back. “You make me happy too.”

“No.” She shakes her head, then looks down at the water below. “I can’t be a burden on you. It’s not fair.”

“Sweetie, look at me. You’re not a burden on me, okay? I love you. I want to be with you. Think about how I’ll feel if you jump. Think about how sad that will make me.”

Jenny’s face twists as though this were something she genuinely hadn’t considered.

Then, from behind me, I hear the sound of sirens approaching, and suddenly ambulance lights burst through the dark, illuminating the scene.

It’s as if a glass has been shattered. The peace of the moment bursts, and Jenny looks back down at the water.

I know I only have seconds to act.

“No. I can’t be here any longer, Marlon. I’m sorry.”

She raises her left foot over the edge, and I summon every ounce of strength and speed I have within me.

I dash forward, sprinting like my own life hangs in the balance.

It’s like watching in slow-motion as she extends her leg over the metal railing and lets go of the girder with her hand.

I leap toward her, arms outstretched, and just as she begins to step out over the edge, I grab her by the waist and pull her back onto the bridge.

We fall backwards, and she lands on top of me, cradled and shackled to me as I hold her tightly to my chest.

“No, Marlon, no!” she protests, squirming against my grasp. I hear the sound of the EMTs’ footsteps as they rush toward us, each step causing a vibration in the metallic decking beneath us.

“Let me go!” She wails. “I don’t want to be here!”

“No, baby,” I whisper, clutching her tightly to me. “You know I can’t do that. I love you too much. I love you.”

Two months later…

“Happy birthday, dear Jenny! Happy birthday to you!”

Jennifer smiles, the light of her birthday candles glowing in her eyes as she leans down and blows them out.

I cheer and clap loudly, along with everyone else. It’s only a small party we’re throwing at the office, but both of Jenny’s parents, Nathan and Carrie, have come along, as well as a few of her friends from her book club, and a couple of guys from the office she’s grown to like when she comes to visit me. Brian came too, as she’s really gotten to know him and his new girlfriend, Charlotte, and gets along with both of them well now.

“Okay, who wants cake!?” I ask, handing Jenny the knife to cut the first slice. Two months ago that would have made me nervous, but she’s in therapy now and has been doing really well. Her doctor says she’s been making incredible progress, and Jenny herself says she’s feeling a lot better. I’ve been taking time off work to be with her and bringing her to the office with me so she’s never alone at home.

She’s not working right now. She tried doing some secretarial work, but she said it was just too mundane and it let her mind wander to too many dark places. I tried giving her a job at the company that would keep her busier, but that didn’t work out either. So for now, she’s staying busy with therapy, lots and lots of reading, and working on writing her first mystery novel, which I really hope works out for her.

I stand back and smile as she cuts and serves up cake for everybody. It’s hard to believe we’ve made it this far since that night at the bridge. It’s taken lots of hard work, but I really think we can make it together now.

I believe in her.

After cake, Jenny’s friends give her cards, which she reads and gets all teary-eyed and responds with hugs. No one brought presents as Jenny absolutely forbade it. She didn’t want to be the center of attention, despite already being the center of attention as the entire party was in her honor.

I wait until everyone has left to corner her by the window and wrap my arms around her, my tiny packaged gift in my hand.

“What’s this?” she asks, genuinely surprised. “I said no presents!”

“You couldn’t possibly think I would abide by that.”

“Marlon!” She sighs, taking it from me. “Now I feel all…”

“Feel all what?”

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