Could've, Should've, Would've

“No!” I yelled, my paws feeling weak beneath me. My brothers limp body lied by my paws, his lips drawn back, in a frozen snarl. A fighter to the end. “Please” I whimpered. “Don’t take him, from me!” I pleaded, and pleaded, even though I knew it was no use. My poor, dear brother was gone. 1

My legs, finally began to give way. Soon I would be lying upon the ground next to him, weak with grief. I didn’t remember falling, and yet I was already on the ground, the soft marshy moss clinging to my muzzle fur. My body convulsed in a whimpered sob.2

If only… I thought painfully. If only I had followed him. My head spun as my mind went back to that day not long ago. 3

“Come with me!” Pleaded Ganford… my foolish little brother, even though he was bigger, and broader than I. 4

“No!” I persisted. “We don’t need to go and challenge Zeeroc! He’s too powerful! You’ll get us all killed!” 5

“Jemma! Please! I can’t just sit around here like a fat lump, while Zeeroc kills us all one by one! Enslaving and murdering!” Anger blazed in Ganford’s eyes, lighting his amber irises. “Please” He lowered his voice, softly pleading.6

I closed my tired eyes, and shook my head slowly. “No… Ganford, I’m not going with you, and I beg you won’t go either. I don’t want to see you slain, my dear brother.”7

“I won’t get killed!” He paused and thought about it for a moment. “and even if I did, I would die fighting for what I believe in. Freedom! Don’t you want that too?” 8

“Of course I do!” I sighed. “I just don’t want to trade you for it! I’d rather Zeeroc torture me till I die a painful death, than lose you!” 9

“And I you sister! But I must do this!”10

I sighed seeing there was no use arguing. “Well, would you at least sleep on it? Think about all this for me?”11

Ganford nodded and padded past me, stopping at the entrance of our little den and beckoning me in. Curling up beside my brother, I had little faith he would listen to me. 12

13

When I woke, I woke to the cold of lonesomeness. I jerked my head up looking for Ganford. “Ganford?” I asked, jumping to my paws. “Ganford!” I bolted out of the den looking around frantically. “GANFORD!!!!” I shouted praying for an answer. But there was none. My little brother was gone. I sat at the shadowy entrance to the den and whimpered. “No…” I knew where he was going. But I knew I couldn’t find him in time. I would be to late, there was nothing I could do now. 14

15

And here I was now lying against my cold limp brother, praying I could‘ve saved him. My body convulsed continuously as I mourned his death.16

I could’ve saved my baby brother… If only I had followed him that very morning. If only I hadn’t thought it too late. I should’ve ran as fast as I could… If only I hadn’t been so stupid. If only I wasn’t so foolish… I would’ve had time, he was only a day’s run away… If only I had. If only….. I could’ve…. I should’ve…. I would’ve…..17