Tear

The snow clung to the window, blurring the world into a foamy sea of white. He watched as the people filled in one by one. Defensively he crossed his arms over his chest, pondering, “Why am I here?” The impulse to throw his simmering black coffee from his table as they passed glanced through his mind.

An unfamiliar voice cuts through his tempestuous inner monologue. “Is this seat taken?” she asked.

“No, it’s a free world. Sit where you want,” he states, detached as he gazes through the mirror-like window.

With sparkled eyes, she spoke as if almost in song, “Ever just jump in the snow?”

With a raised eyebrow, he replied, “Really, I’m 43, and you can’t be too far away from that age,”

Ignoring his question, she produced a bright red spinning top and placed it amusingly between them, twisting it enthusiastically.

“Childish toy,” he muttered under his breath as he tried to conceal a slight smile.

Sticking her hand into the bright and radiant bag. She takes out another spinning top and deliberately placed it into his stern hand, offering him a look of shy happiness.

He angrily wrapped his fingers around it, making a defiant fist. The words “Stop acting like a child, look after your brother and stop jumping in puddles,” echoed through his mind, wanting him to crush the fragile object in his hand.

Something switched his focus just for a second, causing him to see a glint of sadness well in her eyes. Instantaneously, he released his grip on the wooden toy in his softened hand.

“I’m sorry,” she softly whispered as tears threatened to overflow from within her.

His look no longer matched hers as he tapped the small amusement on the plastic surface. He spun the toy slowly as if he feared dire consequences for having fun.

With a transfixed gaze, a sudden wave of realization swept through his body as he realized.

The wind swept briskly off the sea’s turquoise sheen as he ambled joyously up the well-worn path. It had been a long time since he had ventured this way. His mind floated back to favourable childhood memories of summers and sunshine.

A voice cut through his distant memories, “Do you know the way?” Walking up to him, she stares as a brief recollection lights up her face. A smile overtakes her expression as she exclaims, “It’s you!”

A brief nervousness flickers over him as his mind searches for a memory of her, “Who is she?” reverbs the question around his brain. Kicking a loose stone across the track, he stalls for time to think.

“Don’t worry,” she says. “You wouldn’t know me. I spent most of my time in the library, hiding from you.”

“Which library? My mind is blank as to who you are,” he responds, confused.

Silently, she produces a red spinning top from her pocket, placing it firmly into his open palm as she smiles at his puzzled look.

Catching her gaze with a shimmered look, caught in a battle between a grin and a grimace, he only manages a calm breath.

“You always told me to grow up,” she staunchly states.

“But at what cost? To become like this, like me!” he disappointedly responds.

Looking at him compassionately, she asks, “What would you have done differently?”

Taking a silver coin from his pocket, he flips it high into the air with his finger and his thumb. As it landed, he covered it quickly with the sole of his brown leather boot, before looking deep into her through sharp torn eyes, “Do you…”

“No,” she says exasperated, “You don’t get that choice,” she adds whilst grabbing onto his sleeves, her stare matching the intensity of his. “You don’t kill one person., you kill two,” she goes to speak, but nothing comes out as her voice choked with emotion, spinning between grief and love.

As he turns the course, gravel crunches underfoot. A trail of pain lies strewn down his face, he attempts to take a step. A sudden pause takes him, causing him to stop. Stepping back, he lifts her chin softly, brushing her hair behind her ear, saying, “You are the only thing that kept me alive.”

Written by Raven and Isabella.