Another Death

Walking along the pavement her eyes shifted from the ground to the faces so tired and cold walking past her holding themselves just trying keep a semblance of warmth as the wind blew across their faces feeling like bitter slaps. Hands in her pocket she shivered and sighed watching the air come out her mouth. The streets lights above shone in stark contrast with the dark sky appearing almost like stars.
”Hey got some change?”
Softly spoke a man as he appeared suddenly from the shadows her heart suddenly racing she eked out a “no” so softly spoken that if her words was uttered from 2 feet away she would be inaudible.
Her legs as if taking the message began to walk away as the man
yelled 1

“thanks anyway” 2

she had not realized but the man reminded her of something she had forgotten about long ago. She was 6 she had woken up in a daze staring up at the ceiling with a hunger in her belly until she heard screams coming through the walls. The hunger turned into a cold acid that shot up to her throat. 3

“If you want me to leave! I’ll leave just look me in the eyes and tell me you don’t…... love me!” 4

“Look me in the damn eyes and tell that you can live without me”
‘I don’t love you’ her mother whispered bitingly 5

"Ha! That’s about the biggest lie I’ve ever heard when the pain in your heart returns know that I’ll be long gone" he said with no emotion.6

"Just do one thing for me tell chuki I love her very much do that for me please" he said with a cracking voice. 7

The wind whipped across her face feeling like another bitter slap across the face. Her mother never mentioned him again or his last words. All that remained of him was the hazy image of his strong shoulders looking ragged as he walked out the door and she watched from a crack in her door. She stared at the pavement caked with mud and slimy waters in front of her. She attempted to avoid covering her shoes with mud by jumping from dry spot to dry spot appearing to a stranger to be a mildly appealing yet downhearted game of hopscotch. She stared up at the signpost and was relived to find that she was there. turning the corner and walking languidly feeling the bass thump underneath her and the distant laughter, her anticipation grew faster as the sounds got closer. she smiled and pulled off her beanie and straighted her hair. staring at the dilapidated house in front of her she frowned and wondered what the interior would look like when suddenly somebody crashed out the door.on the ground his face was stuck with a pained smile as tears rolled down his eyes. She rushed to him. his eyes staring off into the distance though staring directly at her. The darkness hiding both their faces but doing little to help shroud the man’s pained smile. His mouth gaping open she held him in total confusion his breathing faint yet as loud as she’d ever heard. his heartbeat in rhythm with the music but sounding even louder. The music engulfing her as she held him the constant rhythm made her head swirl so much she thought she was going to pass out. The moon overhead faintly lighting his smile suddenly darkened as clouds moved in front causing total darkness. his hands grasped at her arm and tighted. his face coming in direct view rough and scarred with dark blue eyes he tried to speak
“I …”
but finding himself unable to find the words his grip relented and he sunk back to the floor. Her head still swirling she laid him down and ran in the direction of the music her eyes staring at nothing but the image of his smile. In front of her stood a mob of people and the laughter she so wanted to part of earlier but now just wanting help. standing there she found herself out of breath and unable to say anything.
“help!” she yelled in a hoarse whisper but to no avail.
The crowds still laughing and music still playing she ran to nearest person grabbing him and yelling “help” much to his amusement
explaing everything in one breathless moment she looked at him with her pale blue eyes in tears
”where!” he asked convinced
her head suddenly still she ran to the house only to find the smile no longer there replaced with a ghostly white face and closed eyes.
Shrieking she grabbed his cold body and scram
“No! Dad ! Wake up!”