Up On The Roof

Hi. You alright?

Sorry. Stupid question. If you were alright you wouldn’t be perched on a roof edge ready to plummet, would you?

What’s that? No, I’m not going to talk you down.

I’m also not gonna ask you why you’re doing it. I’m sure you’ve got reasons. And they’ll be very real to you. Yeah, some might say you should count your blessings, that at least you’ve got a roof over your head (not right now, obviously) but it doesn’t matter what others think. In life, only one opinion counts.

Mine.

I jest. My opinion is important to me, yes, but in your life your opinion is the most important.

So, if you’ve made your mind up, I’m not going to waste your time talking you out of it.

A waste of my time? That’s as may be… but I have more time to waste than you, don’t I?

Could you do me one favour? When you get to the afterlife, can you contact me with proof?

You don’t believe?

No, like I said you’re entitled to your opinion (even when it’s wrong).

I wouldn’t call myself a believer. But I’m not an atheist. There’s got to be something afterwards, wouldn’t you say?

No, none of us know for sure. Non-believers, spiritualists; maybe they’re both wrong and the afterlife is like… I don’t know… Maybe you have to live your life over again, getting things right.

Ha, like a video game. The world’s most boring game. Can you imagine having to go through puberty again? Yuck. I’d rather die. Well, I’d rather keep living if dying resets the game and plops me back in childhood.

That’s a good point. If death is a repeat of your life, you wouldn’t be able to contact me. No harm in my asking, was there?

People are going to want to know, though. Your reasons. Yeah, I know you wrote it all down but have you ever written something then looked back at it and thought That’s not what I was trying to say?

Yeah, the written word is difficult. Language relies on inflection and tone, which you can’t always get down on paper. Now, if you were to share your thoughts in a conversation, there’s more chance of you being understood.

Me?

Well, I’m kind of on my way somewhere… oh, blow it why not?

Put the kettle on, I’m coming up.