One Last Breath

One Last Breath

         Rose sat there with her golden hair trailing down her back in thick strands. It was a beautiful day. The first day of summer in Shandor. All the people in the village were out and about, tending to their gardens, or hanging out their laundry. Rose noticed several small children playing by a water hole and she couldn't help but smile. It seemed like yesterday that she had done the same thing, with not a care in the world.

         Over the years, she had changed. Her mother had passed away when she was four and her two brothers had left to go and see the world. Now, there was only her father left.

         And as she sat, staring out at the mountains beyond, she felt a calling. Like a sweet whisper in her ear that echoed and resounded throughout her soul. Maybe today would be the day where she would finally decide to leave. Maybe, she whispered out loud.

         She ran out of her room, feeling a slight breeze that carried the sweet fragrance of lilies. Her father sat at an old wooden table staring up at her with a proud look, a look that pierced Rose's heart with a sadness that she couldn't seem to place.

         "What is it Papa?" she asked quietly, a look of concern replacing her smile.

         "Nothing, dear girl. Nothing that need disturb that beautiful smile. Come, take a walk with me. I want to have a talk with you," he said gruffly, lifting himself wearily from the chair.

         Rose rushed over to meet him, grabbing him by the shoulder. Only then did she seem to notice the streaks of gray hair that filtered through his hair. Only then did she see the lines that painted his weathered face. He was getting old and for the first time in her life, she really noticed.

         "Papa, can we not talk in here? You are much to tired to take a walk . . ."

         "Nonsense, me girl. Just run over and get me that wooden stick by the door to help keep these bones from falling in a pile," he chuckled mildly to himself, as he rested back down on the chair.

~*~*~*~*~

         The two of them breathed in the fresh spring air, relishing in every smell and sound. The breeze curled around them, like a light sheet barely touching there skin. They both wore smiles as they strolled down the dirt paths, away from the village.

         "What did you want to talk to me about, Papa?" Rose asked curiously, as she bent down to pick a bright yellow flower.

          He turned toward her with a sudden serious look. "I want you to know that I love you more than anything in the world, Rose," he said quietly, his smile faltering as tears rimmed his old, crystal blue eyes.

         "What's happening, Papa? Please tell me," she said, a touch of anger rising in her voice as she saw her father turn away from her. She gently touched his shoulder, lightly turning him towards her.

          "The wars are starting again, my daughter. It's been twenty years since the last one. Tonight they are planning to invade our village," he said roughly, his hand slightly shaking.

          "But, Papa you don't have to stay. The people of the village can leave. We can all leave. Please," Rose said, her voice shaking. "Why stay and fight if you know you cannot win?"

          Deep down, Rose knew that her father and her were about to be separated. She would never change his mind. In that moment it seemed as if the world had come to a stop. Tears fell on to the green strands of grass, emotions let loose into the wind, they embraced each other, feeling the warmth that would never be shared again, the strong wall of love that was about to be broken down, shattered into nothing but ruins.

          The embrace faltered, the wall fell. The moment came to an end.

          Rose felt a hand on her shoulder and she turned around. There stood her friend, Teran.

         "I need you to go with him and the rest of the children of the village, Rose. I need you to be strong. I will always be with you," he said, staring into her eyes with a love that was beyond any description. "Please."

         Rose could feel the rough skin of his hand over hers. She traced the lines of age, of time.

         She held the image of his hand in her mind. She held the feeling, the touch and embedded it in the fabric of her heart.

         Tears fell unchecked down her rosy cheeks, running down her neck like ice. She felt his hand leave hers. It was as if it were nothing but a dream. Sound halted. She could feel the tug of Teran and she let herself walk away. They shared one last glance into each other's eyes as both turned there backs.

~*~*~*~*~

         Like a dream, she floated through time. Walking through the woods, neither Teran nor Rose talked. They met up with several other children who were separated from their family. Day turned into night.

         Sitting their, the firelight dancing in mesmeric patterns, Rose looked around. Children were huddled together, some crying, some shaking, and others simply staring into the night. Maybe with the hope that all of this is just a dream.

         Darkness closed around everyone and finally many drifted off to sleep. Rose fought the mounting emotion. She felt herself falling inside, felt the tears pouring inside. Her hands shook as she pictured her father. I shouldn't have walked away, she said to herself. I never should have.

         She had to get out of here. She had to go back. She felt herself getting up. Farther away, she heard a small child ask quietly, "Will we see mommy and daddy again, Sammy."

         Her steps faltered at that small voice, but she continued on. No one seemed to notice. Teran was asleep. Those who weren't asleep seemed to be in another world. Rose had to go back. She would never be able to live with herself if she didn't at least try.

~*~*~*~*~

         It was near dawn before she reached the village. She could see smoke drifting from homes. It curled as if it had a life of it's own, swaying with the voice of the wind. She knew that it wasn't a good sign, but she had to continue on. She had to if only for her father.

         As she neared the center of the village, she could see the bodies. The smell of blood rushed up to meet her, tearing the tears from her frightened eyes. Women and men were piled in heaps, some stretched across the dirt in twisted shapes. Her legs shook from the hurt and sadness that built up inside of her. But still she went on.

         She felt herself falling, felt the blood seeping from her hands and knees as she continued to move forward. She tried to get back up, but her legs wouldn't obey. So she crawled. Dragging herself past bodies. Crawling through dirt and blood, tears flowed down. And there she noticed him.

         Her father laid before her. Dirt covered his coveralls and his plaid shirt was ripped in places but it was still her father. His hands rested at his sides and she grasped them, feeling the cold that seem to radiate from them. She gently brushed the hair back from his eyes, laying a smooth kiss on his blood stained forehead. That was when she broke down. She laid her head against his chest, as tears crawled on to his shirt, mixing with the dried blood. Trees swayed, dancing with the wind. The sun filtered through, but its warmth could not touch her. She was too far away. Too far gone. As she laid there, her head bent, her soul breaking, her heart died. No more smiles would touch her face, no more laughs would ring through her ears. No more life would touch her breath.

         "Hello, there little lady. What do you think you're doing?" His laugh rang clear, piercing her soul like nothing before.

         She felt her hands close over cold steel. Just as his hand closed over her shoulder, she reeled.

         Driving the knife through his stomach, she pierced his heart. The blood poured over her hands, staining her soul forever. The man let out a gasp, staring at her with eyes like cold ice. He dropped to the ground in a lifeless heap and Rose watched with knife in hand, as the light left his eyes.

         Falling to the ground once more, she let out a scream that carried throughout the village. Night came forward and held her as she stared into a world of nothing. Too much blood was spilled. Too much had happened.

         Her soul took one last breath as dawn stretched its arms over a dying world.