I've seen love die[revised]

They ran down the shadowy street, hands clasped. The tears were already streaming down her face. As they ducked into a dark ally, he pushed her against a wall and pressed up against her. She looked up at him and he smiled sadly down at her. He leaned into her ear1

“Stay quiet Love.” He whispered.2

She nodded slowly, hearing the sound of foot steps. They were approaching fast. She shut her eyes tight hoping they would walk past the ally. She felt herself wanting to sneeze. She did her best to keep it in but it came out. It wasn’t too loud but the streets were very silent and anyone could hear it. 3

 4

The foot steps stopped in front of the ally. She started to cry harder but still silently.  She could hear his breathing quicken as he hugged her closer. She buried her face in his chest. 5

All she wanted was to be with him. Why did it have to be so hard? She was royalty and he was a mere peasant to her father. Status, that was all her father saw. He didn’t see that she loved this man. He was everything to her and she doesn’t know what she would do without him. 6

The foot steps started again. When they couldn’t hear them any longer he let her go. He kissed her hard and all over her face. He hugged her tightly.7

“I thought I was going to lose you Mina.” 8

“I’m sorry, Jack, I tried to hold it in…”9

Suddenly Jack screamed out in pain. Mina’s eyes went wide. Behind Jack was Mina's supposed fiancé. She dropped to the ground with Jack in her arms. He looked up at her with the same sad smile he had before.10

“Mina…I love you, Please be happy…”11

She cried harder than she had ever cried before as the one she loved died in her arms. She screamed, feeling her heart rip. 12

&&&13

My name is Mina Laou, Princess of the Hanshin Republic. My father, the king, had set me up with a man I barely knew. My father was only concerned about how much power and money this kingdom would have. If selling me off to some prince did it he would do it. 14

Hiro Hitoma, A rich and powerful Prince. He was arrogant and I could never learn to love him, even if I wanted to. I had lightly told him I didn’t want to marry him but he wouldn’t let me go. He is the soul reason jack died. I hated that man with every fiber of my being. 15

Jack Drip was the love my life. He was a foreigner to the Hanshin Republic. We had met while I was wondering the streets of the market. He was working at a small fruit stand. I fell in love with him the minute our eyes locked. I knew my father would greatly disapprove Jack so I kept him a secret. We spent so many nights sneaking around the kingdom. 16

Then, we were caught by Hiro one night. That’s when everything went wrong. Hiro told my father and my father issued that I was always to be watched. It became harder and harder to sneak off. Soon Jack and I decided to run away to another Republic and live happily. Hiro, with all his spies, found out. 17

Now Jack was dead and I was being forced to marry a man I loathed. It took me all I had to be happy. I had to fulfill Jack’s dying wish. But did being happy mean marrying someone I did not love? Did it mean following my father’s orders and making him happy? What really was the true meaning of happiness? 18