delivery guy horror story: the old man's 'trash'

I wasn't going to post this but here we go.

So I work for a delivery company. Normal day, nothing weird, just running packages. I had a date with my girlfriend that evening so I was trying to book it through my route.

Got a delivery for the 12th floor of an apartment building. Customer named Yamaguchi. Elevator was stuck up top so I just sprinted the stairs. Light package, no biggie.

Dropped it off no problem. But on my way back, I happened to glance at the door next to Yamaguchi's apartment.

There was a handwritten note taped to the front door.

"My legs have gotten bad with age and I can no longer take out my own trash. Would someone please help me?"

I really wanted to go see my girlfriend. But I couldn't just walk past that. So I rang the bell.

This old man, maybe 70, answers the door. I told him I'd seen the note.

"Oh, thank you so much. Give me a moment to get ready. Here, have some snacks while you wait."

He handed me a few little cookies and shuffled back inside. I waited like five minutes.

Then he came back out with a small cardboard box. Sealed TIGHT with black tape. Like, weirdly tight for trash. I thought it was a little odd but whatever, old people are particular.

"I'll take care of it."

"Thank you. I won't be able to see you out. I appreciate it."

"Take care of yourself."

The box was heavy enough that I decided to take the elevator this time. Set it down on the floor while I rode.

Honestly I was thinking he seemed like a genuinely kind person. Lonely though. Really lonely. The way his face had fallen a little when I first rang the bell, like he'd been waiting and had almost given up.

Anyway. Almost at floor 6.

BANG.

I actually yelped. The cardboard box had LAUNCHED off the floor and slammed into the ceiling. Just. flew up. Out of nowhere.

I laughed. I literally laughed for a second because it was so absurd, a box just yeeting itself at the ceiling for no reason.

But then I realized. That's not how boxes work.

I opened it.

Inside was a metal dumbbell with piano wire coiled tightly around it.

I stood there for a second. Then I took the elevator back up to the 12th floor. Ran back to the old man's apartment.

Opened the door.

And I remember the weirdest thing happening in my brain in that moment. It went completely cold. I was thinking: I won't make it to my date tonight. What do I do with these cookies he gave me.

Just. quiet. strange thoughts.

You probably already figured it out.

He'd wrapped the piano wire around his own neck. He was already on the floor.

He'd tied the other end to the dumbbell and put it in a box, and asked a stranger to carry it down twelve floors in an elevator.

The drop in the elevator shaft. That was the plan.

And I'd set it down.