Of Reality and Not

Cloud IV pt. II- The Cold Tip

I pulled her behind me and put my hands out in front of me as he pulled the trigger. A sharp pain shot up my arm. I looked down and found a hole through my right hand. I yelled in pain and closed my fist with whatever was strength was left over the wound.

The man slipped to the ground on some drinks that spilled from the platter of the fallen waiter which now rested at my feet. I clutched the platter at my feet with my left hand. I threw it at the gunman which was just starting to get up from his fall. It struck him right in the chest and knocked him back to the floor. As his back hit the floor he lost grip of his pistol and it flood across the floor and landed a few feet in front of me.

I threw myself onto the floor toward the weapon and grabbed it with my right hand through the pain. I raised my arm and aimed it at the man who had gotten up and now coming toward me. I tried pulling the trigger and closed my eyes wincing in pain. I squeezed with everything I had left aiming now blind. I felt the kick back and heard the report. My grip weakened and the weapon slipped through my fingers and dropped to the ground as I heard the body of the gunman thump to the ground.

I opened my eyes and saw the gunman's body lying still on the ground and the clamor around me began to settle down. I pulled myself off the ground and turned back toward my table to see her on the ground stirring in pain.

I rushed over and held her in my arms ignoring the pain rushing through my hand. Her droopy eyes struggled to focus on mine I scanned her dress and found a growing red spot on her stomach. I took a breathe and found her eyes again.

"Hey, it's going to be okay. You're fine." I may have lied a bit. It didn't look good.

"Yes." she said quietly.

"Yes?" I inquired softly.

She put her hand on my jacket and slid it across the pocket and grasped the box resting inside once she found it.

"Yes- I'll marry you."

Her hand fell from my jacket into her lap and her eyes closed. Her head fell back and her final breath passed through her lips...

I set her body down in disbelief . My head pounded. As I turned I found the body of the man still lying there. Struggling with every step I made my way over to the body and picked up the gun I dropped earlier. I looked down at the body and then turned and gazed towards her.

"She was my everything." I said aloud but to no one in particular.

I lifted my head to look out the window at the falling snow... She loved the snow.

I clenched the hunk of metal tighter in my left hand and stroked the now blood-soaked box with my bad hand.
I pulled my arm up and placed the cold tip of the firearm under my chin.

A couple people gasped from behind me then the clamor became completely still.

"Everything..." I repeated shutting my eyes.

I clenched my fist around the trigger and fired. For a second everything in my body screamed in pain. But then felt nothing and my vision went black as my remaining body crumbled to the ground.