Page 33 of Slaughtered Firefly
Cole’s eyes lit up at my voice, but he didn’t jump up; he remained calm, and on my level. It was nice. “I’m sorry it took me so long. I told you I would be right back and I was late. I’m sorry for that,” he said.
Oh, that wasn’t really long though; it was only a few minutes, but as I looked towards the window, I knew it was sunset. It was sunny when I saw him. “Would you like to see something cool?” I nodded. I didn’t know why. Maybe it was the delirium setting in, maybe I would wake up from a coma or something and Daddy would explain to me it was all fake. Cole didn’t seem fake, though. He stood up again and held out his hand. I unfolded mine and began stretching it to grab his. My arm shook, and I could see how thin it was compared to his. It made me feel strange, like I wasn’t right. That I was the problem. He didn’t comment; he just smiled and waited, hand outstretched.
When my hand made contact with his warm, soft grasp, I jerked back. He was real. He wasn’t a fake. He was real. Tears streamed down my eyes again and I furiously wiped them away. I took his hand, and he gently pulled the rest of me up.
Our hands were clasped; it was nice. He was very warm. It was like someone had stuffed the sun into him, and he wasn’t enough to contain it. He started walking and pulled me along. I had to struggle to match his longer legs. When we got to the door’s threshold, I stopped.
“It’s okay, I’ll make sure you are back before you know it,” He held out his pinky. “I promise.” I nodded, locking my pinky with his.
20
FIREFLY
Twenty-two years ago
My bare feet hit the wooden steps, and I shivered. It had been so long since I had been outside. Everything was so loud. The birds chirped noisily as I stepped down. The wind blew my long strands in my face, obscuring my view. I panicked. Cole squeezed my hand and smiled softly. It was reassurance I needed, and he didn’t push me to continue; he let me decide. No one had ever let me decide before.
I stared wildly at every small sound. It was all muffled in the house; it was strange to be out. Cole dropped my hand and turned to close the door behind us. He slipped the little key pin into his pocket with a wink before he grabbed my hand again.
I stumbled as my foot caught in the grass. The soft plush green felt like heaven compared to the hard stubborn wood of home. He smiled. “Follow me.” I nodded and let him lead the way. It was the same path towards the back of the shed, and I paused to look up at that dirty window. My only source of natural light. It was caked with years of dirt, and you could barely see anything from it. I blinked back tears and turned towards Cole, a single nod and we were off.
We walked for a while, as the sun began to dip behind the horizon, the colors of the sky shifted, and the faint glow of the moon could be seen as it started its path.
Shadows formed in the woods as we walked, and I hadn’t realized I was clinging to Cole’s arm for dear life. Every twig snap or croak of a frog had me gasping, and him explaining that it was okay, it was just all the night critters waking up, and we weren’t going to be there very long. We stopped in a clearing, and the sight had me frozen to the spot. So many tiny bugs lit up the sky as they danced from the grass to the treetops. I turned in a circle, afraid that if I blinked, I would miss it.
“They are lighting bugs, usually there aren’t so many but the last few evenings they’ve been multiplying,” he said after a moment.
“L-light L-ligh-ting bugs?” I questioned, I had only seen them once when I was so young I thought it was one of those memories my mind made up. Cole chuckled as he held his hands together in front of me.
“Yeah, that’s one of their names, I likefirefliesa lot better.” He said as he slowly opened his hands so I could look. The little bug blinked in the darkness of his hand before it fluttered its wings together and flew out. I tried to chase it, a smile crossing my face.
“Firefly,” I pointed to the bug I was chasing.
“Yes,” he smiled sheepishly at me, and I stared at him. The fireflies had surrounded us as the moon started to rise, the yellow green glow was hypnotizing as I looked on in awe.
“They like you,” he said after a group had landed on my arms. I held my arm very still as not to disturb them. Emotions swelled in me as and for once in my life, the tears I cried weren’t from sadness. They were happy. Unfiltered happiness at having escaped the shed, if only for a night. Joy at having met Cole. For his saving me. He came close to me. His hand gently caressed my cheek as he wiped away the quickly falling tears.
“I think I’ll call you little firefly, since they like you so much,” he smiled sheepishly, his white teeth polished. As if to agree, the surrounding fireflies blinked their lights. I gasped, and Cole laughed. “See they agree you are a little firefly like them, only coming out in the night.”
“I smiled and playfully pushed him, as we explored the clearing more. It hadn’t been that long since we had been out there when we heard the sound, “Cole. Time for Dinner.” The shout echoed through the trees, and just like that, the fireflies scattered.
“Sorry, we have to get you back before someone noticed I am gone too long,” he smiled sadly this time, and I blinked, not ready for it to be over.
21
STRIKE A MATCH
Present day—July 22nd
“Jones, let’s go,” Simmons tossed a burger at me, and I grabbed my coat to follow.
“Let me guess you found the ex?” I asked as I took a huge bite of the burger.
“Yeah, you’ll never guess what she’s up to now,” Simmons smirked, and I raised an eyebrow, tossing her the keys and opening the passenger side of the car.
We passed through the business district and kept driving south. I side-eyed Simmons. She just continued to look ahead as we passed by Fred’s and then continued south towards the shitty town I had lived in since my family died.
“Are you fucking with me right now?” I threw the wrapper towards the back as she halted the car outside the diner. There was no name on its doors. It was simply just a place that served the shittiest or the best food you ever ate.
