저를 봐요. 그러지 마세요

저를 봐요. 그러지 마세요

한 젊은 청년이 다리 위에서 흐르는 
강물을 멍하니 바라보고 있었습니다.
한겨울 강물은 차가워 보였고
수심은 아주 깊었습니다.

그런데 청년이 갑자기 신발을 벗더니
다리 난간 위를 기어 올라가기 시작했습니다.
누가 보더라도 뛰어내릴 기세입니다.

그 모습을 본 젊은 여성 한 분이 
급하게 달려와서 다급하게 청년의 허리를 
붙잡고 매달렸습니다.

여성은 청년을 꼭 끌어안으며 말했습니다.
"지금 여기서 뛰어내리면 너무 추워요.
저를 봐요. 그러지 마세요."

여성은 청년이 벗어둔 신발을 
손수 신겨주며 계속 위로했습니다.
그러고도 안심이 안 됐는지 다리에서 
멀리 떨어진 곳으로 청년을 데리고 가 
대화를 나누었습니다.

한참을 위로하던 여성이 눈물을 글썽이며 
청년에게 다시 말했습니다.
"내일도 죽지 마세요."

***

누군지 모르는 분한테 메일로 받은 글입니다.

Trifolium pratense (red clover)

Trifolium pratense (red clover)

Image: Trifolium pratense (red clover) | CC-PD | Date: 22 May 2011 | Author: Shahidul Hasan Roman | Source: Wikimedia Commons in the public domain | https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Red_Clover_2011_G1.jpg

Image: Trifolium pratense (red clover) | CC-PD | Date: 22 May 2011 | Author: Shahidul Hasan Roman | Source: Wikimedia Commons in the public domain | https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Red_Clover_2011_G1.jpg

Aquilegia formosa (crimson columbine, Western columbine, red columbine)

Aquilegia formosa (crimson columbine, Western columbine, red columbine)

Image: Aquilegia formosa (crimson columbine, Western columbine, red columbine) | Date: 20 May 2010 | Author: Stickpen | Source: Wikimedia Commons in the public domain (CC-PD) | https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aquilegiaformosa.jpg

Image: Aquilegia formosa (crimson columbine, Western columbine, red columbine) | Date: 20 May 2010 | Author: Stickpen | Source: Wikimedia Commons in the public domain (CC-PD) | https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aquilegiaformosa.jpg

Viburnum dilatatum

Viburnum dilatatum

Image: Viburnum dilatatum | CC-PD | Date: 19 May 2018 | Author: Mason Brock (Masebrock) | Source: Wikimedia Commons in the public domain | https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Viburnum_dilatatum_Japan.jpg

35°37'28.6"N 139°14'36.0"E
35.624619, 139.243331
Takaomachi, Hachioji, Tokyo 193-0844, Japan

Image: Viburnum dilatatum | CC-PD | Date: 19 May 2018 | Author: Mason Brock (Masebrock) | Source: Wikimedia Commons in the public domain | https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Viburnum_dilatatum_Japan.jpg

Trifolium repens (clover)

Trifolium repens (clover)

Image: Trifolium repens (clover) | CC-PD | Date: 14 May 2016 | Author: AnRo0002 | Source: Wikimedia Commons in the public domain | https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:20160514Trifolium_repens1.jpg

Image: Trifolium repens (clover) | CC-PD | Date: 14 May 2016 | Author: AnRo0002 | Source: Wikimedia Commons in the public domain | https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:20160514Trifolium_repens1.jpg

Iris ensata 'Horikiri-no-yume'

Iris ensata 'Horikiri-no-yume'
Image: Iris ensata 'Horikiri-no-yume'  | Date: 13 June 2010 | Author: Tak1701d | Source: Wikimedia Commons in the public domain | https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Iris_ensata_%27Horikiri-no-yume%27_01.jpg

Fragaria vesca im Schwetzinger Hardt

Fragaria vesca im Schwetzinger Hardt
Image: Fragaria vesca im Schwetzinger Hardt | Date: 26 April 2015 | Author: AnRo0002 | Source: Wikimedia Commons in the public domain | https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:20150426Fragaria_vesca1.jpg
Fragaria vesca
Image: Fragaria vesca | Date: 1 June 2015 | Author: AnRo0002 | Source: Wikimedia Commons in the public domain | https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:20150601Fragaria_vesca.jpg
Image: Fragaria vesca | Date: 7 June 2018 | Author: AnRo0002 | Source: Wikimedia Commons in the public domain | https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:20180607Fragaria_vesca3.jpg

Veronica schmidtiana

Veronica schmidtiana
Image: Veronica schmidtiana | Date: 6 May 2011 | Author: yamatsu | Source: Wikimedia Commons in the public domain (CC-PD) | https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%E3%82%AD%E3%82%AF%E3%83%90%E3%82%AF%E3%83%AF%E3%82%AC%E3%82%BF(%E8%8F%8A%E8%91%89%E9%8D%AC%E5%BD%A2)(Pseudolysimachion_schmidtianum_var._schmidtianum)_(5844546873).jpg

Image: Veronica schmidtiana | Date: 6 May 2011 | Author: yamatsu | Source: Wikimedia Commons in the public domain (CC-PD) | https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%E3%82%AD%E3%82%AF%E3%83%90%E3%82%AF%E3%83%AF%E3%82%AC%E3%82%BF(%E8%8F%8A%E8%91%89%E9%8D%AC%E5%BD%A2)(Pseudolysimachion_schmidtianum_var._schmidtianum)_(5844546873).jpg

35°15'57.4"N 139°00'24.8"E
35.265950, 139.006888
Sengokuhara, Hakone, Ashigarashimo District, Kanagawa 250-0631, Japan

Matthiola incana

Matthiola incana
Image: Matthiola incana | Date: 20 March 2011 | Author: دانقولا at Persian Wikinews | Source: Wikimedia Commons in the public domain | https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hyacinth_by_Danghula.JPG

Thumb up

Thumb up

Human behavior is so intriguing. I find myself giving thumbs up signs all the time. I know I look like an absolute dork, but I do it anyway.
- Anne Heche

Image by GraphicMama-team from Pixabay | https://pixabay.com/illustrations/wolf-corporate-cute-business-1454397/

Image by GraphicMama-team from Pixabay