"A Leap of Faith"

With a newfound sense of determination, I slowly began to climb down from the bridge, my legs shaking beneath me. The officer and paramedics watched anxiously as I made my way down, their voices offering words of encouragement. As I finally reached the ground, I felt a wave of relief wash over me, but it was short-lived. My dad's face was etched with worry as he rushed towards me, his eyes scanning my body for any signs of harm. I shook my head, still trying to process what had just happened. "I'm okay, Dad," I said, my voice cracking as I tried to hold back tears. But it was too late. I had already broken down, and hot tears began to stream down my face as I wrapped my arms around my dad. He held me tightly, his voice whispering words of comfort in my ear. As the paramedics approached us, one of them gently pulled back my sleeve to examine my arm. I felt a surge of embarrassment and shame as they noticed the self-harm marks that crisscrossed my skin. The paramedic's expression was sympathetic, but I could sense a hint of concern. The woman paramedic quickly got to work, expertly placing an IV in my arm. I winced as the needle pierced my skin, but I didn't pull away. I was too numb, too exhausted. As the paramedics began to administer medication through the IV, I felt a wave of calm wash over me. My dad held me tightly, his voice a constant presence in my ear. "I'm here, kiddo," he whispered. "I'm not going anywhere. We'll get through this together." I nodded, feeling a sense of gratitude towards him. For the first time in a long time, I felt like I wasn't alone. My dad was here, and he was going to help me through this. But as I looked up at him, I could see the worry etched on his face. He was scared, and I knew it. He was scared for me, and he didn't know how to help. I took a deep breath, trying to find the words to reassure him. "I'm sorry, Dad," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "I'm so sorry." My dad's expression softened, and he pulled me closer. "You don't have to be sorry, kiddo," he whispered. "We're just glad you're safe."