I Thought You Were Dead Alicia Clark/You

I Thought You Were Dead

The abandoned house used to be a home.

Once children played behind the white fences and drawings hung on the fridge.

Once the fence was white not red and the world made sense.

These are not those days.

You drag yourself up the porch and wince when your foot gives a particularly hard throb when it touches the blood.

You're bruised and bloody but not bitten.

You're alive.

It might not be long.

You see the black heads of a rifle aimed at you from the open window and freeze.

"I'm not bitten," you rasp. "I need help but I'm not bitten."

Something slams and glass shatters in the house before the door is slammed open.

Alicia stands there for a moment; chest heaving eyes glossy and her bottom lip trembling.

Then she's sprinting towards you with the tails of the flannel shirt around her waist flying.

You catch her but fall on the dead grass groaning.

Alicia burrows into you a harsh sob shaking both of your chests.

Her fist pummels your chest but you don't move.

Your hand is shaking when it finds its way in your hair smoothing the fly-aways.

She looks up tears trailing down both eyes slowly and they seem to burn like acid when you use your other hand to wipe them.

"I need you to understand-"

Alicia pulls away from you and stands over you her jaw clenched.

You try to stand but cry out when your weight goes to your ankle crumpling to the floor.

Alicia drops her hands pulling off your boot gingerly like she knows every movement sends a cold shiver of pain down your spine.

"You want me to understand you, after what you did to me?"

Her voice is heavy as she stares at the swollen mess that used to be ankle and foot.

"It's not a big deal," you breathe lying through your teeth.

The next words out of your mouth are the truth.

"You didn't die so it was worth it."

Your mouth quirks but falls at Alicia's sullen stare.

Your head drops but rises swiftly at what she says next.

"I thought you did."

She sobs again and you pull her close cradling her in your arms.

"Kiss me," she begs you and you do with her pushing you back onto the grass not caring about anyone who sees.

When she pulls away, you can't breathe and just stare at her awestruck with how close you came to losing her.

You could've died saving this girl and you wouldn't have regretted it.

"I love you," you say softly and took an errant hair behind her ear.

Alicia smiles, it's small but it's the special smile she only gives you so you can't stop the grin on your face.

"I love you too," she admits freely and stands once more pulling you up and leading you into the house.

Every step still aches but you can't bring yourself to mind as much when she's by your side.