[ WP ] A man stops a woman from jumping off a bridge , but he finds out she really should have jumped .

I'll admit, I was first attracted by her shapely behind. But once I realized she was standing on the very precipice of the old road bridge over the River Wely, all such thoughts were hastily dismissed. I stopped my car and walked back to her. 
 
 She was in a flimsy little dress- red, with white bits. Her high heels lay on the pavement, her bare feet wrapped around the rusted concrete. Toes used to a lifetime of being crammed into tight spaces grazed the manmade surface, and looked almost keen on it. I looked up and tried to catch her face, but the sun caught my eye. I stayed behind, and reached out to her. 
 
 `` This is n't the way, you know.'' 
 
 There was silence. Had I said the right thing? But then she spoke. 
 
 `` How would you know? Stay back!'' 
 
 I did n't falter. `` Young lady, I've saved people on this bridge many a time. I know life in this old ghost town is no pickle for you young folks, but come on. You know it's where your friends are. We're all friends here in Tolby, are n't we? 
 
 No reply. 
 
 `` You're a beautiful young lady. You're in a lovely country. You've got so much others do n't. Why throw it all away?'' 
 
 `` Because I do n't deserve it.'' 
 
 It took me a while to think of an answer, but I used a variation on one I had given my wife many years ago. `` No-one deserves anything. I was born to a well-off family, relatively- we owned a farm and did hardly any of the work. It paid for my school. I did n't deserve it, of course not. No-one ever does. But to dismiss it just because of a technicality like that? To lose my place of privilege in society because of a little thing like that, when I could become someone who could help the less privileged? Therein lies the real crying shame.'' 
 
 `` Okay...'' she began. `` Maybe I will step down. Reconsider.'' 
 
 `` Yes. We all deserve a second chance.'' 
 
 She stepped down, but I stayed back, in case she fell or jumped suddenly. `` I know... I've had so many new chances at life. I'd say about five so far.'' 
 
 `` Then there you go, those people who helped you, where are they now? They do n't want to see you throw yourself off a bridge.'' 
 
 `` Oh they would. But they're all gone now.'' 
 
 `` That's a shame. You need to live on in their memory. A young person makes the world go round.'' 
 
 `` Ah yes. But a vampire needs more than youth... a vampire needs blood.'' 
 
 I stammered. `` A what now?'' 
 
 She turned on me and jumped, digging her claws into my shoulder. I felt my strength desert me, as I bled out and she drooled it up greedily. As I watched, she became even younger, like a teenager. My vision became hazy, and her strength multiplied. She picked me up and in one terrible hurl threw me off the bridge. I saw my blood mix with the river, and it clouded my eyes as I sank beneath the stream.
