Stars Above You

two

Later, I felt as if everything was a blur.

I almost died, but my earth took a different turn.
I was at an old mansion, hidden deep in the forest.
A heroic man beside me, both of us wrapped in silence.

Emilio Salcedo, was his name.

A rebel. Opposer of war. Fighting for the freedom of our Motherland and refuge of fellow countrymen.

Both of us walked down a hallway.
I had forced him to let me out,
So my body still screamed tiredness and pain.
He said I had been unconscious for two days.

Yet despite that, I still wanted to roam.
To ease my heart.
For though happy to live, I still felt like it was drowning in vain.

Was this what I really wanted?
Did I really want to live?
Will this really be a chance to run?
Or another chance to fall,
to drown?

"Are you sure you're alright?" He asked after a long pause, eyes gazing into mine.
"Don't worry," I replied. "I'm perfectly fine."

I stopped to hold onto a table.
I lied.
I wasn't fine.
I knew I was tired...

"You know what? You need to rest. I can't believe I let you out during a time you really needed it."

I paused for a second.
"We'll continue this later. Maybe after dinner." He added.
"And... I also have something important to do."
I then realized that there were also other people in the house.

"After dinner, or maybe even a few minutes early. For now, just rest."
"But---" I stilll protested.
"No rejections. Let's returm to your room, miss...?"

He looked down.

"Your name, miss?" His cheeks were red.

And I also realized that I have not told him my name.
I looked away, and instead stared at the old painting that rested on the wall, high above the table.

"Isabella," I said.
"Isabella Atienza."