The Fall of Rose
His eyes and lungs stung from the plume of smoke rising from the explosion. He blinked furiously, trying to clear the dust from his eyes. He had to find her. He had to save her. He pulled his shirt up over his mouth and nose and, with his head down, ran into the ever-thickening smoke. He started to pick up the pace, hearts threatening to beat right out of his chest. His eyes scanned the ground furiously. Finally, his eyes spotted a small, cold hand, lying still and lifeless.
As he made his way to it, he could feel his hearts skip a beat as he prayed that it still had a pulse. He gingerly lifted her hand and felt as faint pulse. That was all the assurance he needed as he scooped up the body into his arms and ran as fast as he could, supporting her head and never letting go of her hand. The faster and farther he ran, the heavier she became and his breathing was starting to betray him. He didn't care; he had to save her. He knew that if she didn't live, he would have nothing. He'd spent years having nothing. She had given him something tangible and pure and he couldn't let her die.
Finally, his legs and lungs stopped working and he sunk to the ground, desperately trying to force air into his smoke filled lungs. Breathing heavily, he gently lay her body down and started pressing on her chest, hoping to speed up his heartbeat. He stopped only when he felt lightheaded and was forced to rest. He leaned back on his longs legs and started at her. She looked perfect, porcelain skin spotless, blonde hair pulled back. Her cheeks and lips were a faint pink, and a thin line of black trimmed her top eyelashes. She was beautiful, young, and so, so brave, and nothing, not even death, could stop her from being so.
The two stayed together on the beach all night, she on her back on the sand, him kneeling over her, all the while holding her hand. At one point, he took off his jacket and draped it over her thin body. It was an eerie sight, the two of them on the beach with a sky the colour of ash behind them. A pale morning came and neither had moved. The man remained silent, the girl remained still, the sky remained dark. The man knew that the girl was dying, if not already dead. He wished there was something he could do, but he knew that nothing could be done.
Just as he had given up all hope, the girl let out one sigh and slowly, carefully, opened her eyes. They were the same pale blue that they had always been, but they lacked the normal excitement of life. She moved her hand, ever so slightly, so that it rested on top of the man's. She gave one last smile, one last pure, beautiful, fantastic smile, and she was gone. The man could feel his hearts break as her hand went limp on his. He wanted desperately to bring her back, but he knew in his hearts that this was a fixed point in time; one that could never and should never be changed.
"They're always brave. And you, my sweetest Rose, you were the bravest."
He gave her one last kiss and disappeared.
