The Compendium

Regret

"I l-love you ..."

I froze.

The knife stuck deep in her chest, just above her heart. I can feel her warm blood soaking my hands. But I couldn't make out what to do, hearing the words I would have loved to hear from her months ago.

"Don't talk shit." I scoffed and twinged the knife deeper. My heart crumpled a little bit more seeing the pain on her face. "S-stop lying."

"Y-you...you were a-always unaware of my f-feelings, huh." She chuckled and choked on her own blood. "M-my bad."

I stumbled back from pinning her to the ground. Aware that her companions might still be around to shoot me but, I was shaking. I didn't cared in that moment if someone shoots me dead. I want to believe she's just fooling me around.

But the Caroline I knew never lied.

"I've always—adored the person that you are, Emmrys. D-don't ever change."

Coughing blood, she tugged at something around her neck and threw it at me. It landed between us, glittering under the fluorescent light. I could have died more seeing what it was.

The tear-drop diamond necklace I gave her.

"You kept it?" She only smiled as a reply.

"W-why would I—t-throw it away? I-it's from you. Anything f-from you is a g-gift."

"Caroline." Her eyes watered looking at me with such a serene smile.

"W-what a beautiful view t-to die with."

I couldn't hold it anymore. I rushed back to her side, but this time, not to stub her but to take her into my arms. My brain screamed how stupid that could be. I should have been escaping the enemy's lair, not kneeling with their leader who I—who I just—...

What did I do? Oh my!

"I-I'm sorry...I—"

"I w-wish...we d-didn't have t-to be enemies n-next time. In our n-next life maybe, I co-could l-love you freely."

"Caroline, I—"

But the last thing she heard me say is, 'I'm sorry', before her eyes drifted close, and her laboured breathing stopped completely. Death has taken her away.

I delivered her to his doorstep.

I killed the woman who has my heart and now, I don't know if it is still beating.

How cruel could life be. #

© astaire_grey

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(Credits to the owner of the photo)