I’m sure anyone versed in this stuff already assumed this about my ‘patient zero’ whenever the call came up, and politely didn’t prod for reaons of their own, but I’ve always avoided ever telling the whole beginning of the call. I don’t know know why I haven’t before. I haven’t wanted to give it words yet I guess.

There was a psych call at a small apartment building that I passed on my dog walk today. Painfully commonplace. I don’t know why this made today the time to open up, but I suppose for the same reasons a painfully commonplace call took me off the road forever.

I did get out of the truck to a scream. The scream was because he jumped. I was already there, already getting out of the truck. I saw him fall. I saw him hit the ground. I know he didn’t “maybe catch a balcony” on the way down because I saw him split open during a weird half-bounce rebound gone awry during the impact. The muted wet thud when he hit was the proverbial ‘finger snap’ speeding up that slowed time. I don’t know if he made any other sound. The only one I still hear is his mom’s screams.

And now you know the rest of the story…