Love under the Weeping Willow

Is This the End

Julia took a breath, about to answer Michael's life changing question when she suddenly felt a painfully firm grip around her arm, and was thrown to the ground with such force that it knocked the breath out of her. 

She landed on her elbow and gasped in pain, the shock of what just happened muddling her brain. 

Julia blinked several times, looking down at the wet grass when she heard a familiar voice. 

Her head snapped up, fear paralysing her to the ground when she saw her father standing in front of her. "Dad?" Julia practically whispered. 

She could barely breathe, let alone speak.

"Julia!" Michael cried out just as Julia spoke, and tried to rush to her side, his heart panicking for her safety. 

But as he passed, Damon pushed him back.

"Stay away from my daughter," Damon said in warning, his voice gruff and threatening.

Michael looked at him intently, his breathing heavy with fear, anger and hatred. 

He carefully considered what he should say, but only one word was possible, no matter the outcome.

"No," Michael answered strongly, his back straight with determination. "I can't do that, sir."

Damon glared at him, his hands starting to curl in to fists at his sides. "And why's that?" he asked with a menacing grin, feigning interest.

"Because I love her," Michael stated honestly, and swallowed hard. 

He was terrified that his future with Julia was about to be torn apart.

"You only love what she can give you," Damon said in disgust, and Michael huffed in shock.

"How dare you! You know nothing of our love," Michael snapped back heatedly.

"I wouldn't test me, child," Damon said angrily, eyeing the boy with disdain.

Julia felt as though she were in a nightmare. 

As though she were in a horror movie, unable to stop the terrible dread growing inside of her.

 She felt as though all her dreams were falling apart. 

Julia was the girl running up the stairs and was about to meet her deadly fate.

"I'm marrying your daughter. I'm taking her far away from here. Far away from you and your brutality, and there is nothing you can do about it," Michael said without thinking, panic now in control of his actions. 

He hoped speaking his intentions out loud would make it feel real, and doable. 

But he only felt worse, knowing his words would enrage Julia's father. 

And they did.

He moved so quickly Michael barely had time to think. 

Damon had lunged his heavy body at him, and both fell to the ground. 

Damon was on top of him, his thick hands clasped so tight around his throat he couldn't breathe. 

When Michael realised what was happening he started to panic. 

He reached for Damon's forearms and tried with all his strength to pull the old man's arms away from his bruising throat, but they wouldn't budge. 

Damon might have been old, but he was a burly man, strong and full of purpose.

Michael could feel his skin start to burn. 

His eyes were watering and he felt as though his lungs were on fire. 

There was so much pressure around his throat that no air could get through. 

Michael could see so much hatred and fear in Damon's eyes that a horrifying thought finally crossed his mind – he was going to die.

The fire in Michael's lungs were starting to grow more intense when he heard Julia cry out, and a flicker of hope washed over him as he lost consciousness.