Wish on a Bridge (Diva)

Lewis stood on the walkway of the bridge, watching the river flow towards the bay. There was something calming about watching the water. Peace was something that he felt he needed desperately these days.

All his life, he had just wanted to be good at something. It didn't really matter what. He just wanted to be successful. But the last few years had taught him that it was no matter how much hard work you gave, there was a chance it would all be for nothing.

And he was unlucky. Too unlucky.

He pulled a penny out of his pocket and stared at Lincoln. A moment later, he flipped it into the rushing water below. It disappeared, just like his dreams.

He needed something to turn his luck around. In some places, they had wishing wells. As far as Lewis knew, Jump City had no such wonderment. All Lewis had was this river. Who knows? Maybe it was lucky or something.

I raise an eyebrow at the man at the edge of the river. I had just come back from... let's just say practicing. I watched as he pulled a copper coin out of his pocket and flipped it into the river. I frown and call out to the man, one hand on my hip as I walked towards him. "Now why would you do a thing like that? It makes no sense and is a waste of money?"

My accent sounded much like a native though would have a little bit of some undistinguishable accent under it, though my voice flowed like honey. Or maybe a river. Though not one like this. This river was too... angry. My eyes were still glowing slightly red but it was fading quickly as I calmly approached the man.

Lewis jumped a bit when he heard the girl's voice. He hadn't heard her approach. She asked him why he had wasted his money.

"It's my choice how I use my money, isn't it?" He realized his tone was needlessly harsh and shook his head. "I'm sorry. I've been under a lot of stress lately. You're right, of course. There isn't much of a point to throwing money away. I guess I feel like that's all I'm doing anymore. Business is bad. But I don't need to bother you with the details. I'm sure you have somewhere to be."

I take a surprised step back at his first words, but shrug when he apologizes. "It's ok, and sorry I . Your right after all, it is your money." I walk up to stand next to him as he talks, nodding. "Well, actually I have nowhere to be. But it seems to me like you really don't want to talk about it." I say rather bluntly, but not in a rude way. "What I can't tell is if you want me to be here or not." I raise an eyebrow. "I don't want to intrude after all." I stare out over the angry river.

She didn't even have anywhere to be? This was unexpected. Lewis thought most people would pretend to have somewhere to be when talking to a stranger. Nobody wanted to have a normal conversation these days. But this girl did. At least, it seemed like she wouldn't mind.

"Actually, it would be really nice to have someone to talk to." He couldn't help but think this girl was kinda cute. Maybe it was the red hair. "If I wanted to be alone, I suppose I wouldn't be in a public place like this. You're not intruding at all."

Lewis took a deep breath. "I moved here to make some money. I got a job working with an insurance company out here. They said there was a lot of people who needed my help. But now that I'm here...Well, let's just say there are a lot of people I could help. It's just that they don't want my help. I've hardly made a dime since I came here a few months ago."

He wasn't wearing his suit and tie today. He had opted for a more comfortable Hawaiian shirt and some jeans for this walk around town. When he was working, he always looked very formal and professional, but people took him less seriously than if he was wearing an outfit like this.

"It's more than just the money. I feel...defeated. Everyone sees me as an outsider who is trying to sell them some expensive piece of junk. This isn't what I thought it would be like."

I smile when he said it would be nice to talk to me. I shrug. "Well it's not exactly public.. it's a ways out of the city so people often come here to be alone." I then sit, leaning on my hands behind me with my legs crossed. I listen and stare out at the river, nodding every once in awhile to show that I was listening.

I frown. "Well the people who need help usually think they can take care of themselves." I chuckle before adding, "Myself included."

I frown and shrug. "Well life is often not what we would expect. Don't let it get you down. Sometimes when you think life is at it's worst and you're just fed up, something or someone will show up and pull you out of the hole you dug. Or the hole you were pushed in." I glance at him. "Trust me," I look back at the river, "I know from experience. And if it's any help you don't seem like an outsider to me." I chuckle. "Though I could be called an outsider myself."

Experience? She looked 10 years younger than Lewis. While it wasn't impossible for someone so young to understand how the world worked, it didn't seem as likely. But he chose to accept her words. After all, she thought of herself an outsider, just like him. Neither one of them was particularly strange, and yet both were on the fringes of society. There didn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to who the rejects were.

Someone or something would pull him out of this hole? That seemed unlikely. His whole life, he had only relied on himself.

"Well, I appreciate your effort to encourage me. I really do. Who knows? Maybe I just have to look at things from a different angle, or try something new to convince people of what they need." He looked at her. This was already a very candid conversation. He decided to continue that trend. "What do you need that you're too stubborn to admit?"

I glance up at the man, surprised by the question. Ivana tries to push her way out to answer the question but I remain in control.

"Help." I mummer with a little chuckle. "But I think I've got it mostly under control... at least I can hope I do." I grin and stand once more. The red has faded from my eyes, leaving them their normal blue color. I lift a shoulder in a half shrug. "But who knows.. maybe someone will pull me out of this hole as well." I look back out at the river in thought.

Vague. Perhaps the girl didn't feel comfortable sharing what she needed help with. Some problems were just too personal to share. After giving her non-answer, though, she suggested that someone might one day pull her out of her hole.

"How will they be able to help you if you don't tell them what you're going through? It seems to me like the first step is finding someone you trust enough to share what your problem is."

I shrug. "Maybe. That's hard for me." I give a small smile. "But how did this turn to me? I was trying to help you." I grin and shrug. "Though sometimes you help yourself when helping someone else. I'm just not sure what you could really even do to help me." I chuckle. "My problem is a bit unique."

"I need money, and lots of it. Ive come to believe that my current business is not capable of keeping me alive. What would you suggest i do? Get a job? Where would you suggest? Subject myself to a meaningless existence in a humiliating job, serving lesser men?"

I blink at the barrage of questions. "Well first, I don't believe there's such thing as 'lesser men'. And second, Anywhere hiring is better than no job. At the very least get a job for while you are looking for a better job." I shrug. "At least that's what I would do."

Ah. Lewis shouldn't have let that slip. The girl was still under the impression that all people were equal.

Any job was better than no job. That much was true, financially, at least. Mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, however, most entry level jobs would crush you mercilessly. Lewis had been there. He had worked himself ragged for years, and he didn't think he could handle it much longer.

But what choice did he have?

"There's a saying that goes like this. Shoot for the Moon, because even if you miss you will land among the stars. But in reality, the distance between Earth and the next star is great, far too great to cross, and space is cold. I will get a job. I have no choice. But what will come to save me as I drift alone in the cold emptiness of space? Where will I find success where there is none?"

I shrug. "All you have to do is work your way up. Or apply for a position above starter and still work your way up. Then someday you will float up to the stars and realize that the sight is better than at the moon. Or you'll make it to the moon. I don't know."

This girl seemed terribly optimistic. At this point, she would probably think him lazy if he doubted her words.

"Either way, i have no choice in my next step. I suppose all i can control is my attitude. Thank you for hearing me out. My name is Lewis, by the way. Who might you be?"