Suicide Jumper ...

Let me start by saying the police were able to eventually talk the poor soul down off the ledge, but this is what happened.
I live on the top floor of my apartment complex and the ordeal (at least for me) began with noticing a person pass by my window. The only neighbors on my floor happened to be gone on a vacation so I thought it odd. After several minutes had passed I went out to sit on my balcony and noticed on one of my chairs there sat a pack of Newports, a lighter and the movie Hostel. I sat in my other chair for a few minutes, wondering who they could belong to. If someone had gone to my neighbors house they surely would not have left those outside. In my curious state of mind I went to look over the railing in hopes of some clue as to the owner of the belongings. I saw someone down in the parking lot sitting on a motorcycle, staring up at the twelfth floor. How strange I thought, and after a couple of minutes of trying to understand this I sat back down. The air was thick with an eerie feeling I did not understand, but soon would.
I caught a glimpse of a finger or something move just a few feet from me. What? I jumped up and looked over to the windows on my right. The windows sit back in about twelve inches from the end of my balcony and I had to look over and back to see there.. My heart began to race as what I saw was a young woman half standing, half crouching on that ledge!

I asked her what was wrong, why was she there, could I please help her, and to please come down and I would help her with anything she needed. She became quite hysterical so I attempted to soothe her. I realized she had no intentions of coming off the small sliver of concrete that stood between her and death. Moving as fast as I could I grabbed my cell and called 911. I Explained the situation as calmly as I could and was told by the dispatcher help was on the way. I tried to talk with her some more and was able to get her to sit on the ledge while I lit a cigarette for her. I assured her I was not going to do anything to her and she took the smoke out of my hand and moved slightly more away from me and the end of the balcony.

I asked her again what I could do for her and the reply was to call her mother. I silently pleaded for someone to pick up on the other end but after a few rings I knew it would not happen. I would try the number she gave me several more times over the next hour and a half, but a machine was all I ever heard.

Soon I heard the police officers arriving, and many more were to follow. At one point she requested a blanket but the officers were afraid one may throw her off balance so I gave her a jacket. It took about an hour more, and some fine police work, but they finally were able to talk her in.

I found out that the fellow I saw sitting in the parking lot was her boyfriend. He had been silently watching her the whole time without ever trying to alert a single soul. I made a point of mentioning it to the police, whom I would like to commend on their excellent work, and patience while saving the woman. I am sure while I type this the woman is being treated at the Mental Health Center and while I will probably never see her again, I wish her all the healing this world is able to give.