Shrike's Heart (#3)

[idolpro]

The woman before you is beautiful—fair of features, with lovely golden skin and luxurious long black hair, petite. You have the immediate and distinct impression that she's just let go of your hand, and she steps back, and smiles.

It's not quite a happy smile.

"I'm sorry," she says. "There's just nothing I can do, as things are. But the way is there; it just needs to be lit."

You open your mouth—maybe to say something, or to express confusion—but you have to cough, and taste something metallic, spattering black blood onto the ground in front of you. Then you realize—blood seeps from opening wounds in your arms, your chest, your stomach, your face. It rims your eyes and trails from your nose and you feel like you're dissolving—

—and you fall through the ground like it's the surface of a lake, and go down, down, down.

> Wake Up

Comments

Re: cw suicidality

[softlyfalling]

[ she almost flinches back, but then leans forward toward him, more relaxed, even though she still can't quite bring herself to make eye contact. ]

Really?
I mean. I don't know that I've done anything out of the ordinary.

Re: cw suicidality

[calmthefoxdown]

You haven't needed to. You being you, has been supportive for a lot of people.

Re: cw suicidality

[softlyfalling]

I...

...it feels hard to believe, but—I'm glad. I'm really glad.

Re: cw suicidality

[calmthefoxdown]

Mm... I'd be happy to remind you. And bully Griffin to remind you all the time too.

Re: cw suicidality

[softlyfalling]

...

...I'll rely on you if you'll rely on me.

Re: cw suicidality

[calmthefoxdown]

... Deal.

[ Offering a hand. ]

THE END

[softlyfalling]

[ she takes it, and then pulls him forward into a hug.

and says, quietly, next to his ear: ]

"How can you trust me," he asked, "with such horror behind you?"
Love endures.

---

Once, there were...
...shadows in the window.
...footsteps at the gates of life.
...whispering at the door:
"Should I live or die? Am I living or dead?"
"To know the world is to choose it," says the Void.