Pom Bear and I

Chapter 3: Love Devours All

"Stop!" the old woman froze and looked to me...

I gulped. Afraid would have been far more than an under-exaggeration.

"What!?" the old woman barked, she had paused her meddling out of a subtle curiosity.

"This crisp, this Pom Bear," my voice shook and shivered- pain- my heart ached from regret of what I had not yet done- pain was all I knew, "is..."

"Spit it out kiddo, I have me laundry to do!"

Nothing could prepare me for what I would do next. These were my actions, this was my doing. Even Pom Bear's sweet, soft, delicate touch couldn't reassure me. A touch that would be lost forever.

"This Pom Bear, is my snack!" a wrenching pain thudded through my broken heart, "Food."

The old hag's arm drooped to her side. Her eyebrow was raised in an uncertain smirk as her eyes pierced through my weak lies.

"Eat it then." There was a small glint in her eye, as if her horridness had revealed a young passion for hate.

I couldn't do it.

I glanced at my Pom Bear, they nodded. It was either one of us or both of us. This wasn't strength that I had conjured from within me, it was cowardice; my hands trembled towards my mouth- open.

I couldn't do it.

She was still watching me, content in my suffering. This wasn't how it was supposed to end, this was our love! No one could destroy the connection we had built.

I couldn't do it.

Pom Bear raised their head to me, in their overwhelming strength. My eyes were pain. Pom Bear nodded again.

I couldn't do it.

"I love you and goodbye!" a whisper so bitter sweet escaped from Pom Bear's crusty lips.

Pom Bear dived into my mouth. My jaw crunched hard over their dead crumbling corpse. I swallowed them. I murdered them. I did this to myself. I did this to my love. My Pom Bear. Our love had devoured all.

I did it.

The old woman sneered.

"Now scram!"

Everything has collapsed around me, I ran to my apartment, alone with nothing but a crisp packet...