(A/N: This is a short story I wrote rather quickly on a random idea I got after watching much music (don’t ask). But anyways, please leave your comments, it’s kind of written in a...different way, so please tell me what you think of it and if it’s too, well, weird.)

Help Me

Riiiiing...riiiiing.

“Hello, welcome to the Help Phone.”

Silence.

“Hello? Is anyone there?”

I started working at the Help Phone a few months ago. I wanted to give something back, you know, help someone...do something. That’s what it was all about, helping; and I, having quite a way with words, thought I’d be good at it. But that was all before I met Jimmy.

Silence, then faint breathing.

“Hello? I’m here to help you, please... just talk to me. It’ll be alright, whatever you want to say you can say it here. Trust me.”

Breathing.

“Can you tell me your name?”

“...Jimmy.”

Jimmy. Such a simple name, like it was meant for a little boy in a red hat, who rode a bicycle down the street everyday and ate ice cream; a kid’s name. But hearing it resonate on the phone after such a long silence, it sounded almost fake, or made up; which it probably was. But I never considered it then, like I said, I was there to help, not to interrogate.

“Hello Jimmy. How are you?”

“I’m...I’m fine...”

“Are you sure? Do you just want to talk?”

Sobbing.

“Jimmy? What’s wrong? Are you alright?”

“I... I... I need help.”

Oh, how ignorant I was. So foolishly, foolishly ignorant.

Everyone needs help; everyone. And I, like a fool, thought I could be the one to help them. Such a fool...such a fool...

“Okay, well that’s why I’m here. Just tell me what’s wrong. Can you do that?”

“It’s...it’s my mom. She’s locked in the bathroom, she won’t come out.”

“Why is she in the bathroom Jimmy? Did something happen, something to make her mad?”

“I don’t know...I don’t know...”

Sobbing.

“It’s okay; it’s not your fault. I can help you; you just need to tell me what happened.”

I should have done something right then. I should have known something was wrong, I should have told someone. That’s what you’re supposed to do, if you think someone’s in danger, call the police. But no...no... I was there to help, and surely that was enough. I could solve all of poor Jimmy’s problems on my own.

“I think she has some pills with her...” (Crying) “I think she’s going to hurt herself.”

“Are you sure? Did you see her take the pills?”

“No...No I didn’t...I’m just scared...”

“It’s okay Jimmy; do you want me to call the police?”

“No...No... I think it’s okay, I just need to get the door open. I need help.”

I was so stupid... so very, very stupid. Why didn’t I call the police? Why did I listen to that stranger on the other line? I don’t know. He just seemed so innocent...he only wanted help...just help...and I couldn’t help but listen to him.

“Is there anyone there with you, anyone to help you open the door?”

“No, I’m all alone.”

“Is there someone you can call...a relative?”

“No, I don’t...I don’t know who to call. This was the only number I could think of. Please help...”

“You need to call the police Jimmy, they can help.”

“No...I can’t... I just need to open the door, I think she’s okay...I just need to open the door. Can you help me? Can you help me open the door?”

He’d sounded so sincere...so honest. It was such a simple request; he just wanted to open the door; that was all. He needed help, and I wanted desperately to help him.

Silence.

“Okay.”

Oh, what a fool, what a fool.

There was no mother, there were no pills, and there was no door. It was all a lie, a lie that I fell for; and now I don’t know what to do.

I just wanted to help...was that too much to ask for? I wanted to help him...make things better. But they only got worse, much, much worse.

And now I sit in the solitude of my memories, and I am the one that needs help. Someone help me...someone help me please... Help me forget what happened, help me go back to how I used to be. I need to talk to someone, anyone, I need to tell someone before the pain consumes me.

But I can’t...I won’t...and there is no help phone for me.

Click.