A Desperate Plea

"Dont call my parents please don’t," I cried, panic rising in my voice as the paramedics and the officer approached me. I took a step back, my eyes wide with fear, as if I could somehow escape the inevitable. The officer's expression softened, and he held up his hands in a calming gesture. "Hey, kid, we're not going to do anything without talking to you first. We just want to make sure you're safe, okay?" I shook my head, my voice shaking. "Please, don't call them. They'll kill me. They'll be so angry." The paramedics exchanged a concerned glance, and the woman spoke up. "We're not going to call anyone without your permission, okay? We just want to help you." I looked at them, searching for reassurance, but my mind was racing with worst-case scenarios. My parents would be furious if they found out I had been on the bridge, contemplating... well, I didn't even want to think about it. They would be devastated, and I couldn't bear the thought of their disappointment and worry. The officer took a step closer, his voice gentle. "Listen, kid, we need to get you some help, okay? You're clearly upset, and we want to make sure you're safe. But we also want to respect your wishes. Can you tell us what's going on? What's making you feel like this?" I hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. But something about the officer's kind tone and the paramedics' concerned expressions made me feel like I could trust them. "I just... I don't know," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "Everything just feels so overwhelming. School, my parents, my friends... it's all just too much sometimes." The paramedics nodded sympathetically, and the officer said, "We're here to listen, kid. We want to help you work through this." I looked at them, feeling a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, I didn't have to face this alone. Maybe I could find a way to make things better, with their help. But just as I was starting to feel a sense of relief, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out, and my heart sank as I saw my mother's name on the screen. "Please," I whispered, feeling a sense of dread wash over me. "Don't let her call my parents."