What if? What if you were given the chance to save a life? What if you were the only person around as someone contemplated life or death? What if he or she were on the brink of disaster? Would you step up to the plate? Would you risk it all for a complete stranger? The following is a story of just this. The story of how one young woman's actions effected someone's entire life. They day destiny took over and brought two people to the same place, at the same time. It all started on a cool spring day in April. The day Elizabeth Brookes went to the North Central Bridge to take a few pictures and found something there she never expected.

Elizabeth Brookes was 18 years old and a month away from graduating high school. She knew exactly what she wanted in life. With her new camera in hand, an early graduation present from her parents, she walked down to the North Central Bridge. Elizabeth was applying to the National Institute of Photography. She needed a portfolio of her photography for her interview. Her portfolio was nearly complete, but it was missing something; the perfect picture. So far, her hunt for the perfect picture was not turning out so well. Over all she had taken about a thousand pictures, yet not one of them was what she was looking for. A friend of hers had mentioned this spot with the most spectacular view of the bridge. That was where she was headed.

When Elizabeth arrived, she could not help but stop and stare at the raw beauty of the place. The sun was setting on just the right horizon and the bridge had a timeless feel about it. She decided to take a few pictures down low first. Beth set up her equipment just beyond the bridge. She could feel the breath taking beauty of God's creation all around her. She did not know where her perfect picture was, but she knew it was waiting there. Elizabeth turned on her camera just itching to snap a few pictures. She was just finishing up when she noticed something weird in one of her pictures. There appeared to be something, or maybe even someone, sitting on the back of the bridge. Elizabeth felt a sudden fear course through her body. She threw her camera stuff back in its bag and ran to the bridge as fast her legs would go. She did not know what was waiting for her there, but something did not seem right. She prayed she would reach the top of the bridge in time.

When Elizabeth arrived at the top of the bridge, she knew that feeling in the pit of her stomach was correct. She looked over the edge and saw a young man sitting on the edge of the bridge. She called to him, "What are you doing sitting there?" She noticed scars on his wrists and tears streaming down his face. She knew at that moment what was about to happen. The drop from the bridge to the water was enough to kill any person that fell from it. The man would not even look at her. Elizabeth wondered what she should do as she looked down at the young man. She thought about calling the police, but by the time someone got there, this man would be dead. She knew she was his only hope now.

Elizabeth made her decision. She would remain calm and attempt to have a "normal" conversation with him. "Hello there. My name is Elizabeth Brookes. What's your name?" She smiled at him as he finally turned at the sound of her voice. As soon as his smoky blue eyes came into view she noticed that they held more hurt than Elizabeth had ever seen in her life. Whoever he was, he had been through the wringer.

"What?" he seemed confused as he spoke.

Elizabeth replied with a calmness that could only have come from God, "My name is Elizabeth Brookes. What's your name?" She smiled as sweetly as she could.

Bewilderment and anguish showed on his face as he said, "My name is Lucas Danes, and I am going to die."

Elizabeth struggled to hold onto her smile as she realized just how hard this situation was going to be. "Well that is a shame. I was hoping I could show you some of my work. You see, I am a photographer, and I've been taking pictures all day. I could really use a second opinion on them. I saw you over here and thought maybe you could be of assistance." Elizabeth tried to make her coming to the bridge sound as casual as possible. She knew from years of being the daughter of a Psychologist that people in that state of mind could be hard to reason with.

"How about you just take some pictures of this? Maybe then someone will finally care about who I am." Fresh tears flowed down his face as he answered with a bitterness in his voice like nothing Elizabeth had ever heard.

"Would you mind? Some pictures of you might actually be great. I haven't been able to find just the right picture to complete my portfolio for the National Institute of Photography." She smiled as she pulled out her camera. As weird as her actions may have seemed, she knew she could buy Lucas some time if he stayed there while she took pictures. Elizabeth set up everything she needed and searched for just the right angle to photograph Lucas.

Lucas kept his head down the whole time, but on the last photograph he looked straight at Elizabeth. The pain in his eyes was twice as evident as in person. The backdrop of pieces of the bridge with the sun thrown in added to the rare, radiant beauty of the picture. Elizabeth's jaw dropped as the realization hit her. Her perfect picture was a picture that captured the war raging inside of this man.

"I wish you could see how good these are looking. Once I edit them, they will be even more breathtaking. You should climb back over for a second and look at them." She smiled as she gave one last attempt to save her perfect picture.

"Why? I know how this works. You get me to climb back over, so you can feel better about saving me. Then, you take me to some mental institution or hospital and forget I ever existed." Lucas's voice was filled with anger as he spoke. His words struck Elizabeth. Was he right about her? Did she really even care why he was there? All she had thought about was how bad she would look and feel if this man died. Until now.

Lucas was sliding further off the edge. Elizabeth knew she had to act quick. The pain and anguish in Lucas's eyes made her want to save him. She knew his life held some meaning to hers. It was no coincidence she found this man. She prayed for God to give her the right words. "You are right. I did not come for you in particular. I came based on something I saw in one of my photographs. I did not even know your name. You have every reason in the world not to trust me." The words Elizabeth was speaking had caught Lucas's attention. He slid back some as he looked into her eyes. Elizabeth looked back searching his soul for answers. She longed to know why such a beautiful life was hanging in the balance.

"I may have come here for one reason, but now that I'm here that's all changed. People can change. Motives and reasons develop that weren't always there. If I could just show you this picture you would see what I see, what God has shown me. You would see yourself through new eyes. Take my hand and I will you show you a reason to live." Elizabeth made a plea that even she did not understand. Lucas looked up at her and for that one moment, their eyes were locked, frozen in time; two souls searching for something they did not understand. In that moment Lucas reached up and took Elizabeth's hand, the hand that reached him when no one else could. Elizabeth thanked God. She could feel His presence all around as she helped Lucas back over the edge.

Elizabeth Brookes listened as Lucas shared his story with her. He went into deep detail as he explained his past. His mother died when he was roughly four years old. His father abused him when he was drunk, and he was always drunk. When Lucas was 10 years old his father passed away from liver cancer, a result of the amount of alcohol he consumed. After that Lucas went to a foster home until he turned 18 years old. For the next two years of his life he was in and out of prison for underage drinking and driving and constantly struggling. It was his twentieth birthday and he had just been diagnosed with a terminal illness. He had lost all reason to live. Lucas told Elizabeth that he decided to die now instead of waiting for his illness to kill him.

Elizabeth knew her life had never been that hard, but she decided to share her story with him. She talked about being raised by a single mom. Her mom made a mistake when she was young and got pregnant with Elizabeth. Before her father had a chance to find out, he shipped out in the army and died in battle. Her mom found forgiveness, love, and a home at a local church. She gave her life to God and raised Elizabeth with the help of her Pastor and his wife. Elizabeth talked about the hope her mom's faith gave her, and how when she was old enough to understand, she accepted God for herself. Her life had been changed for the better. Whenever she needed help, she simply called upon her heavenly Father.

The two left the bridge together that day. Elizabeth used the photograph she took of Lucas in her portfolio and was accepted into the National Institute of Photography. Lucas began attending church with Elizabeth and a few months later accepted God into his life. Lucas made the decision to try and fight his illness in spite of what the doctors said. Elizabeth was by his side every step of the way, and more importantly so was God.

A year later, Lucas was told he was in remission, and he married the love of his life. Elizabeth Brookes became Mrs. Elizabeth Danes. She eventually graduated from the National Institute and documented their entire life together through photographs. They eventually had two kids of their own, and Lucas vowed he would be 10 times the man his father was. There would be no alcohol or drugs in his home, and his kids would have everything he never did, including a loving, Christian home filled with God's love. Elizabeth married her perfect picture and Lucas found his reason to live.

I tell my grandchildren the story of how I met their grandmother all the time. They always tear up at the moment I point out the picture to them. They see a man they never knew. They see a man with a shattered world and no reason to live, until the day Elizabeth Danes walked onto that bridge with her camera and heart for God. I do not tell this story for sympathy at the rough path I followed to God but to give them hope. I tell it to show them that whether we know it or not, there is always a reason to go on living. There is always something more for us out there. It has been 50 years since I married Elizabeth, and we are even more in love than the day we wed. Elizabeth Brookes will always be the one who showed me my reason to live, and I will always be her perfect picture from God.