Memory

Liam wobbled along the curb, his arms spread wide, like an airplane. Ashe laughed, walking alongside him on the ground while holding the ice creams they’d just bought. Liam grinned, hopping over a gap in the concrete.
“Careful, Liam, you might get hurt!” Ashe said, but not unkindly.
Liam giggled. “I’ll be okay, don’t worry, Mommy!”
Ashe smiled and shook her head, continuing.
“Mommy?”
“Yes, Liam?”
“Remember Death’s Silence?”
Ashe made a choking sound and froze. “Where did you hear that name?”
“’Cause I was there. Remember?” Liam turned on his heels and tilted his head.
“What? No- That was- You’re thinking of someone else…” Ashe stuttered, her face pale.
Liam shook his head. “Nu-uh. It hurt, Mommy. It hurt so much. And…” He wobbled a bit, his face strained as if trying to hang on to this newly remembered memory.
“Liam, please, don’t worry about it, it’s not important now. I’m- I’m sorry, Liam,” Ashe reached towards him, hoping to catch him if he fell.
“No… They didn’t understand… You don’t understand… I wasn’t trying to-!” Liam coughed and fell over, his head making a sickening thump against the asphalt of the road.
“Liam!” Ashe dropped the ice creams, rushing towards him. She fell to her knees before him, picking his tiny body up in her arms. “Help! Someone… Please…” She started crying, brushing his raven-black bangs out of his eyes. “Liam, it’s going to be okay, it’ll be alright, you’ll be okay…” Ashe looked around them and spotted a large house just a corner away. She lifted the child with a grunt, starting towards the building.
As she walked away, the ice creams, sweet as could be, started melting. All of the sweetness oozing away into the black rock as the harsh sun beat down on their soft surfaces. And so, they began to disappear. To disappear before they’d reached their goal. Their goal to be loved, to be savored.
Category:Literature
Category:Star's stuff
Category:Original Stories