He took a shaky breath, blinking back tears in the moonlight.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxCo5nwNcw
“Please,” I whispered, voice cracking. “Please don’t make this harder.”
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlcDcBoG663
But she wouldn’t move. She stood there, hair tangled from the wind, eyes wet.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZLWMrq9z8b
“Why can’t you just run away with me?” she pleaded. “Why can’t we leave them behind?”
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrUwbyAM6Gz
My throat tightened. I could hear distant drums from my tribe’s camp. They’d know I was gone. They’d send trackers.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwl7N6KOrbm
“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.”
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKp5ChnUB8T
She grabbed my wrist. “I don’t care.”
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGlYFb50bZ7
I pulled away like it burned me.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlmL6t5uIvL
“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.”
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQz5XdjnYK
She shook her head. “No. No, don’t say that.”
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrzmx9pSAtX
I stepped back. My whole body trembled.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHfhOZLEcbh
“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.”
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ85Nds39E8a
She fell to her knees, sobbing.
47Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡablixoHpxa
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
