Amidst Crimson Kisses

Chapter Six: The Harbinger of Death

Asher's POV

Hours ago, a shot glass worth of sober thoughts left me inebriated on the past as we blazed down the streets of The Bronx in a scarlet red Mustang. I scrutinize the city as it radiates in the rearview mirror while the nightfall revels in the smoldering neon lights. I can't resist as one bottomless heartbeat engulfs me in remorse. The evening grows darker as Lynn flickers in the cityscape with a hard smile and a teardrop running down her long midnight eyelashes. Some part of me still wishes I didn't gain a single memory, so I could still live in our blissful ruin.

The asphalt deteriorates as a cluster of peonies encompassed a sign that said Just Engaged and for a moment I revel in Juliet's wild laughter. I forget the turn signal as we surge down the road in a maroon suit and a dress illuminating in saffron. The Mustang teeters forward while my attention wanders to a maiden succumbed in a cloud of gold that fits every curve of her bust and draped over her hips, cloaking her fiery red high heels. Then I'm lost in Juliet's abrupt glance as she gasped for air and welcomed me in my moment of death. Andre jerks in his seat, fastening his seatbelt as he clings to the roof handle.

The car veers on the edge of the curve, expelling a gravelly bellow as we tread on rumble strips entrenched in the highway. Andre grabs the bottom of the wheel, diverging us to the center of the road while Charlie sits in the backseat dodging every piercing glance I maneuver in the rearview mirror. My fingers grip the steering wheel as my foot flattens against the accelerator and the engine purrs. I can't escape my intoxication of Juliet as the Mustang ferments out of my control. I'm not sane as our life flashes in my agitated eyes while the car gains momentum, and we cruise down the streets.

"Asher, stop the car!" Andre screams, staring holes into the side of my head as I press down on the gas.

The crispness of the air surrounds me as the dusk gleams in Juliet's eyes and hangs over us while the sports car races to our bitter demise. A flash of Juliet's smile weakened as she slammed her foot on the gas. I scramble in the passenger seat as Andre pleas for me to stop while his screams turn into a silhouette of mine. I can't fathom Juliet's rage while she nears an ungodly hour. Charlie grabs my shoulder, allowing my gaze to linger in the depths of his convicted soul.

"It's okay," Charlie says softly. "You remember the first time we met; I was lounging in the convenience store in dirty sweatpants and a blue jean jacket I had since the sixth grade. Yet the only thing I could think about was the formula for my baby sister or cough medicine for my mother because she had the flu, but no health insurance. We were even living in a shelter, so now I'm standing in the aisle with a box of formula and a bottle of cough medicine trying to decide which one I should let suffer. Then I walked to the counter where you were standing in line."

"Charlie, I-I can still drive. I'm just having an off day." I say, my fingertips drumming against the steering wheel as anguish clashes in my visage.

"I know, but when I reached the front of the line. I couldn't decide who to choose, so I just stood there looking at the total on the cash register. Then without a single question, you just paid for everything. Asher, you were there for my family more times than I can count, and when I thanked you, I remember you saying everything has a season, even pain." Charlie mutters with guilt in his tone.

I summon fourteen-year-old Charlie Miller into my mind as he arrives with his head in the clouds and his heart-centered on an old wrinkled five-dollar bill. When I paid for his mother's cough medicine and his sister's formula, I never expected Charlie to be the kind of person that walked miles just to protect his family. Although as much as it grieves me, I'm not angry at Charlie for not showing up at the hospital. On the contrary, I'm not upset he didn't come, but I wish he would've walked through the door the moment I was left wondering about a girl I didn't know that was lost in the ocean.