1 It only takes one step

"Shit, it´s cold".

In mid-December, we enter winter and this part of the world seems to be freezing like an unfinished meal in the refrigerator.

"Either way, it only lasts about 3 months".

I was on my way to college to start another boring new day, it was just boring, but at least boredom was peaceful, so I could enjoy it to some extent.

"Let´s see the time..... I still have 15 minutes".

I took a phone out of my backpack to see the time, the trip from my house to school was relatively long, so I had to get up early to arrive on time and avoid the reprimands of my teachers, at least those who care about having students.

"But damn, I think they abuse Piri too much".

There was a teacher who no matter how many classes you missed, always gave you some work or project to pass his subject. He was a good person, very patient, I guess that´s why it´s easy to take advantage of him.

"What was his name? Paul? Peter?... Meh, if I don't remember, it´s because it wasn´t that important".

I knew that the other students called professor Piri, but I never bothered to learn his name.

"Well, he sure doesn´t know mine either".

It´s not like I was shy or a social misfit, I just didn´t like to call attention if it wasn´t necessary, I could speak in public without problems and I didn´t mince my words to highlight the shit of others.

"Well, at least I accept my bad shit, giving excuses was always a bother".

As I kept talking to myself out loud, I took out the packet in my jacket and started smoking a cigarette.

Fsssh* Haaaah* "That hit the mark".

I was already 19 years old, so no one would tell me I can´t smoke or drink, although I wouldn´t drink alcohol on the street, that would be too stupid, messing with the police dogs was always a nuisance.

"Just a hassle.... I´ll buy something to drink when classes are over, I might invite someone to keep me company".

I was never someone who liked to drink too much, besides, I was not a big fan of hard drugs, they have their touch, and the feeling of being doped becomes exciting, but in the end, they give you a lot of problems, so I stay whit ordinary cigarettes and quiality liquor, I hate cheap drinks.

"HE-HELP!".

"Eh?".

When I was passing through an alley, I caught the shouting of a female voice.

"Did she say help?".

The scream was undoubtedly from a girl, it was only a few seconds, but I was sure she was asking for help, however, SOMETHING OR SOMEONE silenced her.

"..... I'm not going to be the hero, sorry, be satisfied that I called the police".

I walked faster to get away from that alley, took out my phone again, and alerted the police about what happened. I was confident about my physique and my fighting skills, but I wasn´t going to risk my life for a stranger in a dark alley.

"It could be a trap to kidnap me or something like that".

My policy of trusting no one and anything at first sign saved me from many grotesque situations in the past; so I supposed this would be another one, even if I listened to the news tomorrow about how they found the corpse of a girl in that alley, I wouldn´t feel responsible or guilty, I would feel better for preventing my premature death.

I'm not a hero.

(In life, it´s kill or be killed, and I don't want to die for you). I thought returning my cell phone to my pocket.

It wasn´t a way to avoid guiltiness, it was simply a cruel reality of this world, and I knew it was true because it was cruel.

Family can be a little comfort to avoid this law, but there is always an exception for everything, even the most loving family can sell one of their members if that means surviving a crisis.

"Well, at least I know I wouldn´t be a traitor".

Lots of people have crushed my confidence, and I made them pay for it one way or another, but I never wanted to do the same.

Confidence is a privilege that you give and receive, as Mark Manson said: "Is a porcelain plate that the more you break, the harder it is to fix later, until it reaches a point where is irreparable".

I wasn´t very patient and comprehensive, the truth is that I was more or less an interested person.

The people who seem too useless I just gave them the cold shoulder; doesn't matter how kind they were, for me that was just a cover to hide their incompetence.

I prefer to be whit assholes that are useful for my purposes, like getting something a bit illegal or just to get the homework for college or the sympathy of the teachers.

Honestly, I believed that true friends are those who sow you their shit without fear of being rejected, if they always smile and don't complain about something or someone from time to time, then they are just useless and mediocre conformists.

"Though, talking about true friendship while I'm searching for the utilities of a person is a pretty absurd contradiction. Isn´t it?".

That was the kind of person I was, someone full of shit, someone that accepts that shit and lives to use it for the benefit of the few beings I truly love, or for myself.

"I guess that's why my relationships fail eh".

As I lamented the lack of attraction from the female gender, I arrived at the final cross to college.

"Good, let´s just pass the day as always... Hm?".

"I already told you that I have an important reunion and I need someone to take care of him. Didn´t you listen to me in the morning? Don't give me that crap, you always….".

"Mom~, I'm hungry".

By the corner of my eye, I noticed a young woman speaking on her phone whit a child beside her, probably her son.

It looked like the woman was through a hard time dealing whit her work and maternity.

I pried in silence while my determination to never have a kid before the '30s became stronger.

(That kind of life is too difficult and bothersome for my taste, right now I would be a terrible parent….)

Probably.

Without a doubt, it would be nice to have a family someday, but now that moment wasn´t a necessity for me just jet, maybe in a decade or two, but not now.

I discreetly looked at the mother again, I wanted to know how she would control the situation, for future references.

Now she stood whit her back on the road, paying no attention to anything but her call.

(Hey, don't forget about the kid, stupid woman).

I wanted to reprehend the mother for her lack of vigilance, but I was near the college, and I didn´t want to get a report for being late, so I said nothing in the end.

"Hamburgers! Hamburgers! Come get your hamburger!".

On a fast-food local, a chubby man was shouting his products.

"Pff, those things taste like greasy shit".

On my first days of school, I wandered around the campus to localize good locals of food, and that one didn´t classify through the filter, however…

"Oh! Food!"

The kid got hypnotized by the local and doubtless approached it.

"!!!"

(Okay, I don't want THAT in my conscience)

"Umm, excuse me, miss?"

"Yhea, and the other you- not now kid, I'm busy- and then you..."

The woman gave me a condescended look before returning to her call.

"But..."

"Well fix it dumbass! Ugh, no, it´s just a kid craving attention, nothing important".

(Okay, kind talk won't work, so, I'm in the right of being an asshole)

Putting air inside my lungs I positioned myself in front of the woman and let my final warning go whit the winds.

"Your son is in the middle of the road, you stupid bitch!!"

My shout shocked so much the woman that her phone fell, also, the people around started to look at us, the oldest said things like "these brats without respect" and things like that.

"What the-! My baby!!

After processing my words, the woman ran desperately after her son of 8 or 9 years, it was pretty dramatic to see how she forced the cars to stop, but I also think it was necessary.

(Look, you know how to act like a mother if you try it, good job)

While the mother picked up her child I gave him a look.

(Uwah, the little idiot tough he could cross the street alone and stopped in the middle what an idiot)

As my thoughts became meaner the mother started to walk where I was.

(Oou, don't fuck with me! Cross the goddam street if you are already there!)

I wasn´t surprised at the fact that not all the decisions of the mother were the best, though this one irritated me a bit.

When they were a few steps away from me, a horn was heard nearby, it seemed that the driver of a truck lost control, since he kept slipping and colliding whit other cars.

"AAAAHHH! H-HELP!" Screamed the mother as she used her body to protect her son.

"Come here! You can still avoid it!"

There was still enough road for the truck to reach us, they could be saved if they just jumped or ran whit all their might.

"Run!"

"Come here!"

The screams of people were heard everywhere as the cars crashed or derailed due to the truck, the panic spread like an illness and no one helped anyone.

"Ahg, fuck, why are you so stupid!"

I yanked away from the people who ran like headless chickens and went to the mother who was hugging her son. I quickly took the wrist of both of them and whit all my strength threw them out off the road to safety.

The bad thing is that doing that, made me lose my balance, causing my fall.

The horn screamed as a warning, the wheels creaked closer, the lights became brighter, for a few moments the cold increased, and space lost its colors. I felt as time slowed down, the movie called life played in my head, and in the end, I could only say…

"Ah shit, I should have helped that girl". Whit an ironic grin.

I accepted my inevitable death pretty quickly and closed my eyes, preparing myself for the impact.

Soon, I stopped to feel the coldness of the road.

"Welcome, heroes!"

"......Eh?"

I opened my eyes once again and noticed that my surroundings had drastically changed.

Now it was warm.