Broken Strings

I Promise

Outside the wind blew furiously against my already cold and fragile figure, howling by my ears. The rain pelted against my sensitive skin, each touch sending shivers up my spine. My wrists burned in the sudden change of climate and my poor eye sight worsened. “Are you okay?” Peter called. He held my shaking hand in his but for me it was becoming all too much. I’ve only ever felt this way on one other occasion. I was just sixteen and my cousin I’d only just met for the first time had thrown me a surprise birthday party. I was overwhelmed and the next thing I knew I was staring at the ceiling. End of party. Right now, in this moment, I feel as though I might just collapse the same way. I’m positive lack of food and water is the main problem here but I can’t help but feel overwhelmed about my current position. Only three days ago I was laughing and having the time of my life with the person I love. Now I and that person are enduring the biggest fight for our lives to date. “Amelia?” Peter stops in his tracks and I feel my legs begin to buckle beneath me. “Amelia, you don’t look so good?” that was the last I remember of that moment. My worlds is black, I hear, see and feel nothing.

Peter’s POV

In an instant she fell into my arms. Only now do I realise i'm in deep. Pale and broken she lay limp in my arms. My brain ticks over what I should do next. On the surface I may come across strong but inside I’m shaking, I’m scared, I’m worried for our lives. I can only think up one solution to our predicament and it doesn’t hold much hope for the both of us. Something I didn’t tell Amelia is my arm. Whether it’s broken I have no clue. I’ve never broken my arm before. I’ve accumulated a few cuts and bruises trying to find an entrance to the butcher. I fling her body over my shoulder and run. After just a few minutes my legs becomes tired and throb with pain. My arms ache and my shoulder is heavy. Her dead weight is slowing me but there is no other plan. This is it. It’s all I have.

The forest seems as though it could go on forever and after every tree, every bend it seems there is only more kilometres to run. Self-doubt kicks in after about an hour and I must stop to regain my breath. “Peter?” I can’t hide a smile when she sits from her lying position. Damp soil and leaves stick to her shoulder and back as she takes in her surroundings.

“Are you alright? You kind of conked out on me back there?” I try my best to sound light hearted but instead come off a worried wreck.

“I think so. Where are we?”

“The local national park I think. How do you feel? Can you stand?” she blinks a few times and feels around her. “You need a hand?”

“Yeah, thanks,” I help her up and she wobbles on her feet.

“Hold up sleeping beauty,” I chuckle.

“Sleeping beauty?”

“Yep. You passed out on my shoulder for an hour,” I laugh. She smiles and her face flushes red. “It’s okay. I won’t tell anyone.”

“Sure you won’t.”

We spent the next hour or two running and stopping occasionally to take a breath. I hadn’t had time to look over Amelia’s cuts and bruises until now. “These are nasty, we have to get you seen to by a doctor,” I gasp caressing her arm.

“I wouldn’t be worrying about me. You’ve been holding that arm like it’s made of glass,” she laughed.

“Yeah, it may as well be.”

“Why? You’ve hurt it?” she took my jumper and rolled it up. “Does this hurt?” I hissed in pain. “I’m sorry Peter, but you have broken it.”

“Thanks Doc.”

“I will have you know that I have my first aid degree!” she bit back with a smile.

“So you can fix it?”

“I’m not a miracle worker, you’ll have to see a real doctor,” she laughed.

“Yeah so will-” she paused and shushed me. “Did you hear that?”

“Hear what?” she jumped up and down.

“That!” I heard it that time, “did you hear that?”

“I heard it. It’s a car!” without a second thought I grabbed hold of Amelia’s hand and hauled her through the trees until we found ourselves standing stock still on a tar road.

“Finally,” she smiled. I turned to her and rest my hands on her hips. Her eyes deepened in mine. I leant my head down to her level and moved in closer. “Peter?”

“Mm?”

“I’m scared,” she whispered. I leant back slightly, enough to see a tear slip from her eye. I hugged her tight.

“I’m here, I won’t let anything happen to you. I promise.”