Short Stories

I Promise

Run, honey, I promise I'll find you. I promise to come back to you, to hold you in my arms. To keep you safe once again. But times are tough right now, I can't afford to lose you or anything else. Run. Run now. I won't forget to find you, to shelter you, to make you feel stable. I'll put a roof over you head, I'll give you clothes on your back, food on our table, everything you ever wanted. I promise. If you run, you can get it all, leave me, I'm right behind. Right behind, baby. I'll nurture you with peace and happiness, I cross my heart. I remember everything you would say when you want me to make a promise. I remember the words you said to me before you promised me to run, and to have faith in her little mother.

" 'Do you promise that you'll find me?'," Her little mouth said, as she teared up in front of me, scared of the world. I nodded my head, how foolish of me.

" 'I promise.'," I replied to her, holding her hand. I swore on that day, that I would. But I couldn't. I can't. Is she desperate now? To find me? Or is she dead? Is she as dead as I thought as I was going to be on that day? Why did I even bring her into this mess? She doesn't deserve it, she didn't do anything wrong. Her little heart bears everything in this harsh world, the pressure causing her to collapse internally. My little darling, the one I was so proud to hold in my arms that very day, her eyes filled with the universe, bright and wonderful; just as her eyes are now, I hope. I hope her eyes haven't dulled like her mother's. Like the way they swept away the light from them, like a broom to dust, to be discarded and forgotten. I must find her. Our fates are already intertwined, intertwined with the earth and sky. I'll find you, even if it means sacrificing even some of the things I need, for you. You're my moon, my sun, my stars. I'm sorry you had to run, I'm sorry you had to bleed, I'm sorry you had to die. I'm sorry. But, you're still alive, in my heart. I'll find you, and give you everything you want. When I get to the heavens....

And escape hell...