dulcet: a collection of short stories

wildflowers

I yelled loudly as I ran through the field of wildflowers, the wind whipping through my hair. A hand grabbed my arm, pulling me onto the ground.

I laughed, looking into his deep emerald eyes. He grinned widely and wrapped his arms around me.

"Let go!" I giggled, jokingly kicking him.

"Never!"

I kicked his shin a little too hard and he let go, clutching his leg.

"Ow! That hurt,"

"Serves you right." I stuck my tongue out.

Getting up, he started to chase me. "Get back here, you... woman child!"

I sprinted faster and tripped over the hem of my lemon yellow cotton dress.

"I got you!" He cheered, pinning me down.

His dark hair tickled my chin as his face got closer, and closer, and closer-

A gunshot echoed across the forest, sending the birds flying away.

"They're here," I gasped. "They came for us."

He picked me up and intertwined our fingers, locking them together tightly. I brushed off my dress and picked it up incase I tripped again.

"Don't worry,"

I swallowed hard. "Why would I?"

He smiled crookedly. The footsteps of the men got louder, clearer.

"Let's go."

We tore through the field, pushing our legs to move faster. I focused on my breathing and tried to keep running.

The sound of another gunshot rang through my head as I turned to look at my lover for the last time.

The bullet zipped through the air, aimed at his head. I watched in shock as everything turned into slow motion. The bullet piercing through, the blood dripping, his body falling.

I fell to the ground, the world spinning. I couldn't breathe, I needed air.

Crawling over to his limp body, I clutched his shirt hard and shed quiet tears.

I knew this would happen. I knew it.

And it was all my fault.