Triumph

Chapter One

The first days were hard without him. I forgot that he was gone and the endless sobs came when I remembered. He was a big part of my life, but more than I could see back then. He was the rock that held my world together and I just didn't know life without him. I remember the blood that oozed from the wound in his chest, how it sickened me to the point I vomited. I remember his laugh at danger and his fear of nothing, but I also remember his scream of pain when the bullet made contact. He yelled in agony only once. I didn't recognize it then but there was a look of pure terror on his face, he wasn't ready to leave. I remember my tears, that felt endless, flowing down my scarred cheeks and onto the wounded ground. I watched helplessly as his knees buckled and he fell. It only seems like yesterday when he sank into the loving earth, that cushioned his body and blew me a kiss. He was afraid then. He left my me alone and every day I've noticed his absence, I've only become worse.
Pain was new to me and it wasn't pleasant. It wasn't the kind of pain where someone kicks your shins or sticks a needle in your arm, I can handle that. It was the inside pain when someone you love is lost. I learned to ignore it, shut it down. My brother tried his best and made little money. I went without eating most days, like that helped. I left the little shack and delivered news papers daily, that made little money. Our money combined could buy us each two meals a day. So we ate little and saved the rest. I ignored every feeling and tried to become unattached to anyone I knew. I began not talking to Jared and keeping a distance, he didn't mind. Today was different. Jared didn't come back like he usually does, he was late. I didn't worry, in fact I went to sleep before he arrived. The next days he seemed happier, lighter, not that I noticed. He met someone, I knew that much and this someone was more than enough to keep him happy.
A clang of the old clock tower jarred me from my reminiscing, and sour-ful thoughts. My mentor rapped his fingers on my desk, and I peered into his eyes innocently, he stayed silent and returned with a glare. "Ah, it would seem it's time for you to go, but look here, you've gotten nothing done!" He angrily threw his arms over my desk, the empty pages of paper lifting with the slight air waves. My eyes met the floor, where his shoes were tapping with annoyance, and my heart pounded with regret. "I got distracted?" I offered, giving the faintest smile, and viewing that it wasn't working in my favor. He shook his head, running his crinkled hand through his long gruff beard. "I'll see you tomorrow." He muttered and stormed out of the shop. I sat in my chair for a while, enjoying the peace of the wooden office building.
Commotion on the street's brought me to my feet, and I rushed to see what everyone was fantasizing over. A new poster had been tabbed to the billboard outside of town hall, and a large crowd gathered around it. The moment some broke away and let tears engulf their frames, I knew what the poster said without reading it. The uprising in the Northern Cities was causing a break away in our Peace Treaty, and we were going to war. The past four years held us in a war with them, resulting in the making of a peace treaty, but rumors have aroused that the Northerner's are still not satisfied. Young men patted each other on the backs, friends from the last war, but their shoulders sagged with the heavy news of their soon return. Then a thought raced into my mind, blocking out all other thoughts. Know that Pa's gone, Jared will have to go.. I though in absolute misery, and raced home.
I threw open our wooden door, it creeking on it's rusty hinges in the process. Jared stood over the small stove, stirring a pot of something delicious smelling. "Your not going." I stated, crossing my arms over my chest with defiance. The Northerners took my father, and now they wanted my brother to die the same way. Not that I didn't have hope in him surviving, it usually just didn't happen.
He paused at the stove, and turned to face me with somber eyes, but a light glaze of bravery coated them, defiantly an act for me. He walked over to my side, and pulled out two chairs at the table, lacing my fingers with his. We sat in silence for sometime, seemingly the last day we had together before he left. Then he swiveled his head, eyes meeting mine, his face was expressionless.
"What do you want me to do Vi? Stay and break the law?" His voice was tired, and horse from working in the mine shafts all day. I shrugged, needless to say, he was right, who could go? We ate that night in absolute silence, enjoying each others company, the simple presence of each other was enough.