Like Real People Do

I had a thought, dear
However scary
About that night
The bugs and the dirt
Why were you digging?
What did you bury
Before those hands pulled me
From the earth?

Her dress was pure white and beautiful, flowing behind her as she ran in the woods under the moon light. She kept behind the trees so no one would see her from the road, and she used the winding stretch of dirt as her guide. She knew her path, she could feel him calling to her from deep in her bones. She wasn't too late. If she didn't hurry, though, she would be.

A tree limb snaked out and grabbed at her dress, tearing at the precious lace. She didn't stop, and left a piece of white lace behind her. It shimmered in the moon light.

She began to run faster, her breath coming in gasps. He was calling to her, louder. She had to move faster. She could see her destination, there, at the end of the trees. She was almost there. She ran faster.

She reached the gate and found it locked. The iron bars beckoned her to climb them, and climb them she did. She cut her foot on one of the swirling, ornate bars and didn't seem to notice. The blood dripped to the earth and a little black beetle crawled over the droplet.

She crawled back down the other side, jumped, and landed on the soft ground of the other side. His call was growing louder with every passing moment. She began to run towards him, the moon lighting her way. Sweat dripped down her legs as she ran, and her white dress clung to her skin.

She found him, found his hiding place, and plopped down on the earth above him. His call was almost deafening. She had to work fast, or it would be too late.

She took the small knife she had stolen from the kitchen out of her pocket. She worked with a steady, precise hand. This trade was worth it, worth him. Anything was worth him. Life without him was not worth living.

Slowly, carefully, she removed the precious object from her chest. It fluttered in her hands, but never once faltered. This was her payment, this was his price. She was glad to pay it.

Her bloody hands dug a small hole in the ground next to the jutting stone. Those words inscribed there were wrong, because he was still with her. She could hear him calling. She was bringing him home.

She settled the fluttering sacrifice into the hole, and watched it slowly sink deeper and deeper, her payment accepted. She felt her body begin to grow cold, her skin becoming pale and slightly blue. Her chest felt hollow, her dress clinging to her skin and the sticky wetness. She felt something inside her growing dim. She felt her light slowly snuff itself out.

Her hands reached out and began to dig, the dirt still soft and fresh. She felt worms under her fingers and felt a desire to eat one. She didn't know why, but let herself indulge. She thought maybe she should feel disgusted, but she didn't care. He was calling to her.

His hands found hers, and she grasped onto them firmly and began to pull. She felt him, his strength, and she pulled harder. She was going to have him back.

She found her hidden strength and pulled him out, pulling so hard she fell back. She looked at him and he looked back at her, his back against that horrible carved stone. His eyes were dark, much darker than they had been before. Something about them didn't seem quite right. She didn't care.

He gazed at her and she crawled towards him. She smiled, her mouth moving slow to form the gesture. Her hands shook as she reached out to touch him, and he looked down at her hand on his chest. He let his hand find hers, his eyes moving back up to her face. There was recognition there now. She could see him in those eyes now.

His eyes widened in shock, and a tremor ran through her. She didn't regret it. She would not. She put her finger to his lips and shook her head. They didn't need any words to ruin this moment. Her hands slipped on the ground underneath her, wet and slick from the dripping redness.

She brushed his messy hair out of his eyes, dirt falling to the ground. She felt a beetle crawl across her hand. Her lips formed a kiss, and his eyes stared wildly at her. She leaned in, gently. He recognized the gesture, his eyes understanding behind the confusion and fear. His lips met hers, and the blood and the dirt mingled together in their kiss.

I will not ask you where you came from

I will not ask and neither should you

Honey just put your sweet lips on my lips

We should just kiss like real people do

-'Like Real People Do', by Hozier