Short Stories

Courage

   She sat in the cell, her heart, barely beating. Blood dripped from every area of her body. Her mouth tasted like rot and vomit. Her lips were cracked and her eyes could barely open. Her limbs were limp, she could barely move her head. Everything felt numb but at the same time, everything hurt. She would've cried, but she was too dehydrated. Her arms were chained above her head. Her head was spinning from the lack of food and her stomach felt like it was about to cave in.
   She couldn't see anything but she heard her cell door open. Heavy footsteps echoed off the wall. She would've been scared but emotions no longer existed with her. Maybe that was a good thing. She no longer missed anyone. She couldn't fear what was coming. She no longer had a need to cry. Maybe that's why the voice that spoke confused her. It was so sweet and kind. It held compassion with a touch of sympathy. But it came from someone who was always laughing when she bled. When she screamed for him to stop. Someone, who loved when she was in pain.
   "Why do you continue living?" He asked, in pure curiosity. "You go through pain every day. You're already so close to dying. You don't have to suffer." He said, his voice silky soft. It was odd, his voice was usually so gruff and mean.
   She licked her dry lips, though her tongue was practically sand. "Because it takes more courage to suffer than die." She said simply. "I know she'll be safe so long as you have me. You can't leave me to regain my strength, so you can't go after her.  I want to prove to you all  that I will make it." She said, her energy suddenly spent. She felt as though she was about to fall asleep. Suddenly she was jerked back to reality as she felt him grab her arm.
   "You are never leaving. And you are never healing." He said, his voice like stone.
   She gave a dry laugh, which caused her to cough. "Then I guess..." She took a long wheezy breath. "She'll never die..."