He took a shaky breath, blinking back tears in the moonlight.
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxGhDaY9ph
“Please,” I whispered, voice cracking. “Please don’t make this harder.”
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ieaLEM2JP
But she wouldn’t move. She stood there, hair tangled from the wind, eyes wet.
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOUBYrazNnT
“Why can’t you just run away with me?” she pleaded. “Why can’t we leave them behind?”
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDyrIE119O7
My throat tightened. I could hear distant drums from my tribe’s camp. They’d know I was gone. They’d send trackers.
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgCTnB230po
“Because they’ll never stop hunting us,” I said. “My father...he’ll kill you. And then he’ll kill me. And the war will only get worse.”
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡROVg6BM9lu
She grabbed my wrist. “I don’t care.”
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi130bAYZUU
I pulled away like it burned me.
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPhIqo6IoLO
“I care!” My voice cracked. “I care too much. That’s why you have to go. If you stay...if they see you with me, they’ll call you a spy. They’ll make me watch while they torture you. I’m trying to save you.”
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjuihRhI0Pn
She shook her head. “No. No, don’t say that.”
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyq5E7tJs73
I stepped back. My whole body trembled.
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAiumRIwGsk
“I love you. That’s why I’m begging you: please. Leave tonight. Never look for me again. If you ever cared about me...run.”
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDzF4mmDHmS
She fell to her knees, sobbing.
44Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPBBX9HUwXZ
I turned and ran into the trees, heart shattering with every step, praying she would do as I asked and live.
ns216.73.216.176da2
