Burn Long, Burn Bright

Chapter Four

            I had thought about a house. Or just someplace to stay, but it would have trapped me or held me down when i eventually moved on. The streets were where i could run without caring. Or at least when i did care, i could run away from the streets to the fields.

          It is going to be my second promise,then, that i will enjoy this house. It's going well. Sort of, I've been inside for about two hours and i am bored, but its the way i cant see the stars. In the park, i would lay on the grass and stare up at them like every night. It passed the time when i couldnt sleep, and a night surrounded by four stylish and brightly painted walls made me nervous. And a bit scared too.

         I was waiting through the night. It would be a long time. I knew that, but promise number two, I was staying. After an hour and a half, i dragged a camping mattress from the cupboard through the bathroom window and onto the sloping, slated roof and lay there. And for a minute, I laughed. And i lay in the breeze watching my stars, just visible through the city lights, and i waited. I have a way of drifting off a bit in my mind, like dreaming, and that was where Rose found me  in the morning. The sun came up early, and somehow she 'woke' me up when the new day was flickering on and across the urban horizon. Not as beauiful as i had seen, but Rose's laugh echoed across the roof.

          "Charlie, arent you getting cold?"

           I looked at her and laughed myself, there was something i felt just then. Something i hadnt felt before in a long time. I smiled again.

          "What time is it? I've been up here since about nine, I think?" I said, and she helped me up. I held her hand for a second longer, just checking she was still there. Checking i had met someone like her.

          "Nine? You have grit in your pyjamas, you know? She was still laughing with that same amused and curious smile.

          "Sorry, I, yeah, never mind."

           " Sorry? Why did you spend the night on a roof? I got the whole 'not sleep' part but isnt it a bit cold? Your hand is." I took it back from hers quick, to quick, but she didnt seem to mind. Noticed, though.

          " I couldnt feel it, sorry, do you want to go back inside?" I felt guilty, suddenly. I looked down at the dirty roof and picked up the air mattress. It was only an accident, but my foot slipped. Just nugding Rose on the sloped roof. She slipped over. Sliding down the side and over the edge. I had enough time to grab her hand and haul her back up. And my other hand lost it's hold on the edge and i fell. Not far. Two stories, and after a moment of falling, there was a dampened, strange thud. And a small sound like ripping paper.

          Rose screamed and after a few long seconds, her bare feet rang on the rough pavement. I lay on my back looking up and she knelt at my side, just out of view. I tried turning my head, just ebough to catch her eye and smile.

          I got about half way when a fire sliced down my back. I felt something rip again and another snap. There had been worse. Actually I'm not sure there had been. There was the black invading my brain again, the darkness returning like so many times before. Rose was holding her breathe beside me. She knew what was coming as i faded away.

           It was not as fast as the bullet, but there was only moments before i felt the snap turn into a click, and whatever ripped tingled like sparks and stopped. The pain was still there, but whatever was wrong drifted away and i heard Rose sniff. Opening my eyes, i took a deep breath and sat up.