The Lost Dreams of a Broken Poet

Of burglars and alleys

I had the idea for this one since October/November last year (2022), but only got round to writing it till summer 2023. It's much longer than my usual short stories, but you get to meet one of my favorite narrators!

The shrill scream cut deep into the silence of the night. The woman fell onto the hand-woven carpet, her cry ignored by the sleeping neighborhood. There was a knife glistening under the tired moon, the silver hilt protruding from her chest.

From the other side of the room, a dark figure is opening chests and closets, taking anything of worth that can fit their bag.

They are rummaging inside the jewelry chest when, suddenly, the woman gasps. "Atlas..."

The thief stops and looks at her. "How do you know my name?" They whisper, fearful.

"How?" She replies back, tears rolling down her cheeks. "We've been seeing each other for the past four months!"

"I don't know you," they mumble before leaving the sobbing, dying woman behind.

"Yes, you do..." She closes her eyes, taking in the pain and letting the past few months play back in her head.

✶✶✶

I was running late that day. I had stayed so late the previous night researching for my university papers that I had been so tired in the morning. And now I was paying the price.

I ran, my skirts tangling around my legs, until I reached the main street, already bustling with people. I tried to make space, to no avail. That's when I saw the side alley. Dark and dangerous as ever. But it would make my trip today much shorter. I could actually arrive on time... And, it would only be this time. What could happen?

I took a deep breath and ran through. That's when Atlas appeared. A hooded thief with a very pretty knife on their hand. Yet, they couldn't hide their beautiful, flaming hair.

"Those bracelets look expensive," they say, but I could only stare at their bright green eyes, at their entrancing gaze. "The bracelets, lady!" They said. I shook my head, clearing my head. I was being robbed!? I nodded and gave them my gold and silver family bracelets. "Thank you!" They sighed, exasperated. "You can move along, now," they pushed me away and I stumbled out and raced to the Campus.

That day I could only think about those exotic green eyes, so bewitching and beautiful. I thought about the thief as I took notes. I thought about their red hair as I had lunch. I thought about their steady gaze as I prepared for bed and grinned.

That's when a soft knock came from my balcony. I turned and there they were, standing in the cold night, their hood still up. I almost fainted there and then. Had thinking about them all day really made them come to me?

I rushed over without thinking about what I was doing and opened the doors.

"I followed you here," was the first thing they said, and the rational part of my braid that was still workin shouted at me to cry for help. I'm afraid I ignored it.

"Why?" I asked instead.

"I wanted to give your bracelets back to you," they replied, clasping them back on my wrists.

"Why?" I asked once more.

"Because... Uhh, because... I wanted to see you again? I think?" They looked awkward, as if ashamed of saying this.

"Oh!" I felt my face flushing and I turned to put the bracelets on my bedside table. I tucked my dark locks of hair behind my ears and looked back at them. "Um, well. Sit, sit!" I pointed at the only chair in my room, in front of the cheap desk my father himself had made so long ago. They did so, as I lowered myself on my bed.