A piece based off of two characters from my WIP novel.
.
.
He couldn't let her go
He wrapped her in his arms
Like the weeds around their ankles
on those endless summer days
when they were children
and she was his best friend.
Vibrant even amongst the wildflowers,
as they burned their skin in the sun.
.
Like how she burned now.
Broken, bleeding, begging.
The woman who wielded her spirit
like he did a weapon.
Stronger, braver, kinder
than he'd ever manage to be.
.
They'd stolen her light.
Clawed it out of her chest.
The word laughter so easily converted to "slaughter"
Leaving merciless darkness, vengeance.
Scarred and bruised, not from play, but battle.
But he couldn't let her go.
.
So as the only woman he'd ever loved burned.
He held on. And burned with her.