Sunlight and Storms

'pup'

(A/N I wrote this for my creative writing class and thought I'd share it.)

Breath, pulse
Heavy steel
Cold and daunting
A dangerous target
Finger phantom pull
Just shoot–
Save them
She tries
She fails
Ringing pops
Firing fills the air–
DEAD.
    Steel clatters
    Skittering across stone
    Slumping on wall
    Unable to breathe–
    Choked sobs
    Words, whispers, warmth.
She had him,
that was enough.

Breath, pulse
Heavy steel
Cold and daunting
Target different–
It's him.
Finger rests
Just shoot–
Save yourself.
She tries
She shoots
Ringing ears
Jolts up arm–
DEAD.
    'pup'
    Approving tone–
   Warm breath on neck
   Stomach twisting
   Unable to breathe
   Shocks down spine
   Choking–
Pup, punished for weakness.

Breath, pulse
Heavy steel
Cold and daunting
Twisting distortions
He is the target,
A reminder.
Just shoot–
It's not real.
But, it used to be.
She tries,
She wakes.
Ringing scream,
Pounding in ears–
AWAKE.
    'pup'
    Cruel echo
   Haunting whispers
    Bursting sobs
    I can't–
    Comforting arms
    Words, whispers, warmth.
She had him
that was enough
SAFE.