‘
Don’t.’
Rowel Leung, Group 4: Fiction, Island School
ou turn instinctively towards the strong voice, anchoring onto it, letting it pull you back onto the
safety of the brick road.
‘
Ok.’
And the both of you make your way back home.
________________________________________________________________________
it’s normal again
She misses you even when you’re together because you’re not really with her, but it’s okay because
eventually, you always come back. She thinks.
But you take her waiting for granted, because you know you’re the only ones insane enough to put up
with each other. She won’t leave you.
until it’s not
After all, who else is going to keep you from falling, and her from drawing red on herself?
________________________________________________________________________
‘
I still need you.’
You jump down lightly, swallowing a gasp, as the brick gives away just a little too easily.
‘
Ok.’
You nod again, almost as if reassuring yourself, and the both of you make your way back home.
________________________________________________________________________
you feel like you’re giving away little pieces of her
Then she comes home with someone else on her and her blade dripping, and all you feel is fire.
Red is for you only; after all, you are the blood that runs through her veins.
but maybe she never gave them to you at all.
You knife your initials onto her hipbone, scarlet spilling everywhere, blinding your vision.
________________________________________________________________________
‘
What are you doing?’
You shake your head, leaping down from the tall brick. It is looser than last time, and you have to
move quickly to regain your footing.
‘
Nothing.’
She spins on her heel and walks quickly, and you follow one, two, three silent footsteps behind her.
________________________________________________________________________
there’s no happy
She won’t let you fall, of that you are sure. Probably the only thing that you are sure of.
only alright or no
Until you aren’t, and you find yourself repeating it like a mantra to get yourself somewhat close to
believing it, and the words becoming meaningless.
________________________________________________________________________
‘
Get down.’
You stand unwavering, an unmoving black figure on top of the Great Wall, looking up at the dark,
silent sweep of endless blackening indigo, instead of the darkness that plunges below you.
Silence lounges languidly in the thick, suffocating air, clouding your faces, like a veil you know you
would never get to wear.
_______________________________
‘
Please.’
you look gorgeous
Almost immediately, she crushes the thought. Beauty doesn’t belong here. That’s when she knows you
will die.
But she doesn’t think she’s seen anything more beautiful, lips pale from the cold and skin flushed from
the gales, wide eyes exuding fear and contentment and curiosity.
_______________________________
‘
What are you waiting for?’
You swallow thickly, face betraying nothing. Your foot twitches, itching to make the familiar route
down a block, and onto the road. But you hold back, just to see what will happen if you don’t.
‘
Come here.’
Y