Promise

How could you?

The words burn my tongue as I take a staggering step forward, the edge of my blade scraping against the ground.

My body aches and I can no longer see out of one eye. But I am standing.

How could you?

I can still see the shadow of your sillouhete in the distance. Or maybe it’s just a memory. Between the haze in my mind and the numbness crawling up my limbs, reality seems to be a mere suggestion. It’s hard to tell how much time has passed but the world is starting to darken and I can see my breath.

Maybe I’m already dead.

I banish the thought with a scoff. Although to my ears the sound comes out closer to a shaky sob. For the dead don’t feel pain. And pain is all I feel.

How could you?

Something shifts. There’s a hard edge behind the question now, a small wringling sense of anger that burns under my skin. Part of it was my fault, I know. I shouldn’t have trusted you. Shouldn’t have let you get away with the things you’ve done.

But what is done is done. I have paid a steep price for it.

And you will too.

The promise tastes like copper in my mouth. I laugh but no sound comes out and my body shudders under the strain.

The world is dark now but I keep moving forward. For I know that each step I take will bring me closer to you. I am still alive. Not because of luck or skill. But because the world knows that I refuse to leave on its terms. If I am destined to die, then so be it.

But I will drag you down with me.