Others

Cobalt

He's broken

Bloody

His skin mottled with purple

His eyes are black

Puffy

One almost closed completely shut

They busted his lips

But he's still beautiful

Unbearably broken

But beautiful

It's late so I don't worry too much about guards

But I still keep my head tilted

There's a hole through the fence

Right next to a large

Ragged tent they use to store clothes

I slipped through it

Scratching my arms

I watched them beat him

Through the metal mesh

He didn't move

Didn't scream

Just lay there

Taking it

When they left him

No one came to his aid

I couldn't just stand by and watch

Even though

He was one of them

He was still a living

Breathing

Being

I kept one ear towards the entrance

Just in case

The Other is watching me through slits between his black eyes

I watch him back

The silence is only broken by sounds from the outside

Others speaking in hushed voices

Guards calling to each other or yelling at someone doing something they don't like

Finally

He speaks

What is your name, Blue Girl?

It takes me a moment to answer

Did I want to share it with him?

Tell him something that no one else in this world knew but me?

I never knew something so simple

Such as a name

Could feel so private

Almost as if you were opening your insides

And letting all of you

Spill out

Cobalt

I say quietly

He smiles

His teeth are stained with his blood

Just like your hair

I nod

He reaches out a shaky hand

Wincing at the pain it causes him

But he continues

His fingers slide gently through the long blue strands

I stiffen but allow the gesture

Beautiful

He says

My heart flutters and it's hard to breath

I choke out the words

What's your name?

And his hand returns to his side

Kaze

Just like everything about him

His name is strange

I want to stay longer

But I know I can't

I bid him farewell

And he smiles

Good night, Blue Girl