1

The wind was blowing strongly over the rooftop of the six story apartment in downtown Chicago.  That howling wind barely drowned out the sound of the sirens and other commotion at the base of the building as fire engines and police cruisers came to a screeching halt below. All of these sounds filled Anthony’s ears as he stood on the stone ledge of his apartment complex. He could see people gathering on the streets below him, watching to see if he will jump or not. Anthony didn’t comprehend why it was that they stood and watched. There was nothing those people could do to convince him to stay put or even attempt to save him as he plummeted to his death. The crowd was there merely to see the scene or just to say that they were there to see the suicide take place.

            Over the sound of the sirens and the wind, Anthony could barely make out the sounds of someone speaking over a megaphone. They were most likely attempting to convince him not to jump but he couldn’t really tell, nor did he care. There was nothing anyone below could say to stop him. Why should he listen to what they had to say? Anthony had nothing to live for any more seeing as his life was now in ruins. His wife had been murdered and her killers were now after Anthony as well.

            Anthony reached into the pocket of his leather jacket and pulled out a folded up piece of paper. He opened that paper and read over his suicide note:

To whom it may concern,

I have lived a terrible life. I made the mistake of bringing the life of crime to my family. I was formerly a member of the last existing mobster family in Chicago. This family has been doing all that they could to keep themselves hidden from society and I had the misfortune to know a little too much about them. They killed my wife and are now out to kill me as well. I can no longer hide, run or fight back and I will not give them the pleasure of finishing me off themselves. Instead I shall take my own life in hopes to also spare the rest of my family and friends.

-Anthony Gizzardo

Content with his words, Anthony folded the note up again and put it back in his pocket and looked up towards the sky. The sky was clear that day and the sun shone brightly even as it set out in the distance ahead of Anthony. It would have been a hot day had it not been so windy; in fact, with the sun setting the wind was even a bit chilly. Slowly it was getting darker and darker and the lights from the emergency vehicles below were becoming quite dominant in the area. The wind started to die down to a gentle breeze which made it easier for Anthony to hear the man on the megaphone who was still attempting to get Anthony to step away from the ledge. Anthony ignored him all the same.

Anthony inched slightly closer to the edge of the building, the toes of his black running shoes hanging over the ledge. He felt a rush of adrenaline as he slightly leaned forward. That feeling made him want to jump even more just to feel that surge of adrenaline rush through his body as he fell. He inched slightly closer yet, barely still on the ledge. Anthony’s heart started to race while the adrenaline pulsed through his veins. He raised his arms up to his sides as he finally felt a sense of freedom. He felt as though he was flying like a free bird, like his fatal leap will bring him the peace he searched for.

Anthony leaned forward a little further and began his descent down to the ground below. Time seemed to slow down as the wind whipped through his dark brown hair and he closed his eyes. The adrenaline had now hit its peak and Anthony felt free, but his mind moved faster than the adrenaline. Even in the short time it takes to fall six stories, Anthony saw his past flying through his mind before the wind had stopped and everything had turned black in the life of Anthony Gizzardo.

Author's Note

I apologize for the font change in the last paragraph. I can't change it for some reason. And also I apologize for the shortness. It's only and introductory chapter.