SUN SETTING

xxiii.

TELL ME A STORY, BROTHER.

WHAT STORY DO YOU WISH TO HEAR?

THE ONE WHERE WE FAILED
A BROKEN SOUL.

—

A CHURCH, HOLINESS SPILLING FROM THE GROUNDS AS SILENT PRAYERS LEAKED FROM TURBULENT MINDS AND DRIFTED INTO THE EARS OF WINGED SOLDIERS, OF ENTITIES POWERFUL.

A CITY, WHERE SINS DRIPPED FROM PAINTED LIPS AND TAINTED MINDS DWELLED WITH UNCERTAIN FUTURE, HUMMING ALONG WITH THE CHORUS OF SACROSANCT SOULS AND DIVINE WORDS.

A BOY, HIS SKIN BROKEN LIKE THE RUMBLING WAVES AS THEY CRASH AGAINST THE ROCKY CLIFFS, SPRAYING SALTY TEARS TO THE ONES ABOVE, HOPING, WONDERING, IF THEY'RE LISTENING. HIS SOUL DIMMED AS NIGHT HAS SETTLED IN THE OCEAN BOY'S HEART AND DARK CLOUDS HAVE ENVELOPED THE MOON WITH SELFISH ARMS. HIS MOUTH, HOW SHATTERED CRIES EMERGE FROM THE CHAPPED SKIN OF BLEEDING LIPS. HIS EYES, HOW THE HOPE DIMMED INSIDE OF THEM AS HE RAISED THEM ONCE MORE TO THE SPLINTERED SKY, SEARCHING FOR THE HEAVENLY EYES HE THOUGHT WERE SUPPOSED TO BE PEERING BACK AT HIM.

A STARLESS NIGHT GAZED BACK INSTEAD, ITS INKY EYES EMOTIONLESS AS THE BOY CLOSED HIS OWN, GIVING IN TO THE GENTLE TUG OF QUIETUS.

A GRAVEYARD, WHERE THE STARS TOUCHED THE STARK WHITE BONES THAT LAY SUNKEN BENEATH THE GROUND, THEIR DUSTY HEARTS HOLLOWED WITH THE ECHOES OF THEIR LEGACIES LOST AND CARRIED.

—

— how do bruised boys who carry heavy hearts and broken bones still hope so hard?