He took a shaky breath, blinking back tears in the moonlight.
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtwpwcpvzh7
“Please,” I whispered, voice cracking. “Please don’t make this harder.”
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwysG1ZmdPa
But she wouldn’t move. She stood there, hair tangled from the wind, eyes wet.
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZbd4Yrk8Qx
“Why can’t you just run away with me?” she pleaded. “Why can’t we leave them behind?”
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeOc1XURQHc
My throat tightened. I could hear distant drums from my tribe’s camp. They’d know I was gone. They’d send trackers.
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThnOl7Lety
“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.”
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7Mz6Wmv5V
She grabbed my wrist. “I don’t care.”
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAseoLMpRPO
I pulled away like it burned me.
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSxIa0Nn7kp
“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.”
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx4qMuU5lIp
She shook her head. “No. No, don’t say that.”
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfuVBogItNi
I stepped back. My whole body trembled.
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg5dXX6qid8
“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.”
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Ijv71vdOD
She fell to her knees, sobbing.
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5VC3lToZ5C
I turned and ran into the trees, heart shattering with every step, praying she would do as I asked and live.
ns216.73.216.82da2
