Saving Walter Shatitio | Teen Ink

Saving Walter Shatitio

December 14, 2008
By Anonymous

I didn't notice who was up on the roof at first. I figured it was just another worker checking the shingles, or marking where they had to fix a leak in one of the upper level classrooms.
I was truly only up there because my art teacher let us wander the school grounds during that period, and I (usually without permission) go up the emergency stairway and onto the roof.
While watching this person up on the roof beams, pacing as it almost looked like, a small sketch appeared almost unconsciously onto my notepad. Art came almost too easily to me, and I was used to my solitary environment, causing such creativity to slip out of me unknowingly to my clear mind.
It only took me a while to match the person to the name, however.
I slowly got up, still being unseen by the stairway building, and inched around to the beam closest to the edge. Conveniently, he was on the same beam, but about ten yards away, and bending over to look at the fall down.
It suddenly clicked in my mind.
Walter Shatitio was planning to jump.
My mind started to speed my heart faster, and I could feel my face tighten in fear for him and empathy for what could cause him to do this. His jet black curls swayed with the breeze, and his Chucks that covered his feet were sliding on and off the metal on the end of the rooftop, tiptoeing slightly in place.
I then acted on my best impulse, or the most prominent one in my mind at the time.
I took a step forward, out of the shadowing I hide so quietly behind.
I waited for him to notice me standing there, but he didn’t even turn his head in the slightest. I walked closer towards him, staying where I was after I stood about ten feet from him. I opened my cold lips only a moment later.
“What are you doing?” I asked as feebly as possible, almost afraid he would jump right after I spoke.
Slowly, his head turned to me, and for maybe five minutes, we just stood there, staring at one another. I easily took note at how his eyes were a deep brown hazel, turning into gold as you looked around the edges.
It was his moment to speak next.
“What are you doing?” He asked, just as surprised to see someone up here like I was.
“I-I always come up h-here, during m-my art period.” I stammered, intimidated at how much taller he was compared to my meek 4’11”. “But why are you up here? I’ve never seen you up on top before.”
He grew quiet. Then he moved a little closer towards me, until we were only five feet apart. “I came up here to think, and maybe…”
I got animated into making him tell what he might have come here to do. “Maybe what?”
Walter just looked down. “Maybe end it all from here.”
I kept looking at him. “Why?”
He carried on with his explanation, “It just is difficult. My parents don’t see who I really am, and they treat me like dirt.”
My feet walked closer to him, and I reluctantly followed. I really had no need to be in his business. Some voice, though, told me to be compassionate with him, and be patient.
“Do they hurt you?” I murmured, just loud enough for him to hear.
He shrugged. “Sometimes, but mostly they don’t acknowledge my whole existence. Also, I never got to know your name.”
I laughed a little in my head. I knew him, he was well known in my school, but I never found out why.
“I’m Adeline. Or Addie, for short.” I said, almost proud of the words coming out of me.
He smiled. “Thanks, Addie. You probably saved me.”
That threw me totally off. “How?” I asked, truly asking that. I didn’t do anything extraordinary for him, I just talked to him.
“You actually talked to me like you cared, like you saw purpose in me. You made me feel like I have reason, just by letting b tell you why I wanted out. Now, I don’t feel the need.” His eyes shone, as if I had just given him a great gift he would never return.
“Well then, your welcome,” I spoke softly to him, and then walked the other direction.
“So I’ll see you around?” He called after me.
I waved my hand in his direction. “Maybe!” I called back.
But, you see, I never saw Walter Shatitio again.



Similar Articles

JOIN THE DISCUSSION

This article has 8 comments.


on May. 29 2011 at 2:51 pm
Charly11d7 GOLD, Cumming, Georgia
12 articles 0 photos 9 comments

Favorite Quote:
"The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want" Psalm 23:1

This was awesome! I totally loved it, and the ending, it keeps people guessing (and that's coming form someone who hates guessing). Great job, keep writing!

bookworm29 said...
on May. 7 2011 at 1:03 pm
Mebbe Walter walked off the roof after all? By accident??

smartee123 said...
on Dec. 26 2010 at 10:17 pm

This is soooo good! I love it! But why did she never see Walter again? It would make sense if theyre is gonna be a part 2 but if not then ur making me sad! :(

Keep writing!!!!


Kat2292 BRONZE said...
on May. 20 2010 at 4:05 pm
Kat2292 BRONZE, Canfield, Ohio
3 articles 1 photo 62 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;If at first you don&#039;t succeed, call it version 1.0.&quot; ~Mark<br /> &quot;Life&#039;s like a novel with the end ripped out.&quot; ~Rascal Flatts

I completely agree!!! This was pretty good, and the end made me want more. :)

massizme said...
on Dec. 14 2009 at 7:44 pm
massizme, Miami, Florida
0 articles 0 photos 14 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;I&#039;m not saying everything is survivable, just that everything but the last thing is.&quot;<br /> Quentin Jacobsen, Paper Towns by John Green

heyheyheyheyheyheyhey!

why did she not se walter shatito?!?!?

thats not fair.

on Nov. 14 2009 at 2:02 pm
sasssgirrrl22 PLATINUM, Pearl River, New York
27 articles 0 photos 266 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Giving up is not a part of my vocabulary.&quot;<br /> &quot;Don&#039;t let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.&quot;<br /> &quot;Truth be told I miss ya, truth be told I&#039;m lying.&quot;

i really like this too.

part 2 plz!!!

on Oct. 9 2009 at 9:42 pm
french.masterpiece BRONZE, Santa Fe, New Mexico
2 articles 0 photos 16 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;When life gives you lemons, make grape juice, then sit back and watch them wonder how you did it.&quot;<br /> -Anonymous

Whoa. Heavy. Why doesn't Addie see him again????? TELL ME MORE!!!!!!

on Sep. 17 2009 at 4:55 pm
Onceknown BRONZE, Denver, Colorado
1 article 0 photos 78 comments

Favorite Quote:
Courage is doing what your afraid to do<br /> There can be no courage unless your scared<br /> -Eddie Rickerbacker

I really enjoyed this. Amazingly written. A Part 2?