A Gun To My Heart

29

This whole day, Azia has been acting so clingy. Even now, on the beach, she sits so near him. I let the fine sand ripple through my feet, enjoying the sun touching my face.

Mom's note has been bothering me the whole day.

I hope you at least talked about it.
-Alora

I didn't, and her sound still echoes in my mind.
We are running out of time.

"Healers."
The single word breaks their conversation. I couldn't possibly pick a more unfortunate time to bring the topic up, than now. Although, at this point, I don't care. Both of their eyes are set on me, and I know that Azia is attempting to find a way to argue against me again. Without even knowing my question.

"What do you think of healers, Aries?"
I make sure to exclude Azia from this chat as much as I can. Her sharp voice has disturbed me enough today. He holds his hands together as his eyes move towards the sky-blue ocean.

"I think ... that healers are an important factor to have when you're leading a country."
Azia nods agreeing with him.
He isn't talking to you, bitch.

"As you probably know, Insuria is low on healers." His eyebrows lift, as he's mapping out where this conversation is going. "What do you think if we could borrow some, for a while?"

Azia scoffs as she interrupts me. "If you could steal some, you mean?" I roll my eyes back, trying to control my anger.
"Borrow."

"Steal," she growls back, and suddenly her voice isn't as high pitched anymore.
I clench the sand in my hand, feeling the small grains of sand pierce into my skin.

"Those two words have different meanings, you know?" I want to scream the sentence into her ear. Make her deaf. Making her not be able to speak in another conversation again. It would probably save many souls. I know it would.

"Yes, Maeve. I know. But, the one you're using is wrong, and the one I'm using is correct."
She sounds like a ten-year-old.
A ten-year-old being correct.

A frustrated sigh escapes me, not bothering to discuss further. If I was someone else, that would definitely blow my cover, revealing that I in fact want to steal. Although, I'm not someone else. I'm Maeve Ambrose. Someone Aries likes. Something that makes my cover stay. However, it only stays for him.

He is the one, holding the veil up, resisting it to fall. Azia sees it too, which makes her grimace. "I will talk about it with my father. He's the one leading Sarjia."

Not for long.

'You'll see.'
Her sentence returns itself in my head, making my heart, ache. He is utterly clueless. Not knowing that in days, hours, minutes - he'll be the leader. All alone.

I put a strained smile on my face, hoping he'll see it. Take it as a sign, warning, or even a clue. "Aries. I respect your choice, but don't you see straight through her lies?"
Her voice is almost desperate, knowing that something;

will,
go,
down.

One part of me wants him to realize it, to avoid the situation. The other part doesn't want him to realize it. Just so I can have something to show mom. Something that will make her heart made of ice, finally melt for me.

Such a shameful, selfish thought. It shreds my prejudice to pieces.
It seems like not only leaders have corrupt splotches in their hearts.

"Azia, please stop."

Before saying that, he hesitated for a single second. He let his thoughts fight for once - he let them tear his perfect idea of me apart. For one, single second. Next, he ripped them apart, trying to put his idea of me back. Trying to secure the shredded pieces together. Trying to prove it to himself. That the idea of me is real. Knowing deep inside, that it can't be.

Except, he doesn't listen to his mind. He lets his heart rule.
One of the few things that can break the most powerful leader on their throne.

Her face turns into a frown, and I don't know what to do. The powerful waves fill the silence as each of them is submerged in their thoughts. Aries stands up from the sand, taking off his shirt, revealing his strong figure. Azia glares at his muscles as he walks towards the ocean to swim.

"He doesn't deserve a person like you." It feels like each one of her words cuts me, even knowing that what she's saying is true.
"I know."
Her glare darts to me, surprised by my reply. I ignore it, as I look at him swimming peacefully in the ocean. Enjoying the last bit of piece he'll get in a long while.