Strawberry Milk {a short story}

VI Corwin

Her eyelids fluttered and my heart dropped down to the abyss. Numbness spread in my fingers as I cupped her face. Alone the touch froze my skin. One last smile flashed her messy face.

"At least I kept my promise. Win, you better keep yours and... live for me."

Black completely takes over her skin, flesh and bones. Her last breath left. Her strength left. Her soul left. Her body drops on mine, not moving, not twitching. Not doing anything but laying there... dead.

"Thia." My arms closed around her body. "Thia." I shook her. She didn't respond.

Hot tears streamed down my face, not nearly enough to fill the cliff in my heart.

"Thia."

I gripped her so tightly, but she wouldn't move. She just wouldn't move. The Thia I knew would have cringed, cursed, do anything but sit still. But this body was nothing.

A scream left me from deep within my soul. A low choking scream, barely mirroring my crumbling heart. My body numb but raging at the same time.

She left me. I believed her not to. She did. And now. I was all alone again. Again. In this world.

Without her.

My hand lifted her head, shaking. Her olive hair fell lazily around her faze, matching the faint smile on her face. Not even the curse was enough to erase her last grin. I pressed my mouth against her forehead, inhaling her strong scent of wood.

"There they are!"

People arrived at the end of the hallway, their bodies not more than silhouettes in the distance.

My head turned to them, my eyes half focusing on them. The whole in my chest took away every ounce of... whatever held me together. I wasn't able to... do anything.

"Live for me", she said. What a cruel promise.

"Such a cruel promise." A smile twisted my lips. "It suits you."

Carefully, I laid her body on the floor, placing the empty strawberry milk carton next to her.

I struggled myself up, my legs feeling like nothing but sticks. Yet I forced myself to stand, I forced myself to fight. My eyes fixed on the incoming enemies. Darkness covered the sore spot in my heart.

I will live for you.

I will avenge you.