By Arya-Jonah Mendonca
‘I need to go back!’ I screamed in my mind as I experienced the agonizing pain of every atom being ripped from my body. The process was slow. One atom at a time. One atom every hour. Each sever felt like I was being quartered and every vacancy felt like ten hot coal rods took its place. It was nearly unbearable. Nearly.
I tried not to concentrate on the pain, and instead focused on what I had to change.
Ellie and I were walking through the park. It was New Year’s Eve and I had found a great spot on a hill to watch the fireworks. My right arm interlocked with her left and my other hand absentmindedly fumbled around with the ring presentation box in my pocket. We climbed the hill slowly, sharing jokes and –
‘ARGH!’ This wasn’t my worry! I had to find what I needed to change!
Colourful explosions filled the air and lit up her beautiful face with perfect shades of red and green. As the frequency of the fireworks increased, I lifted the box out of my pocket and switched from cross-legged to kneeling on one knee. Her smile widened but she composed herself, allowing me to shoot the question at her.
But I got no further than opening the box, for from behind Ellie, a gun-toting mugger ascended the hill. My face fell; Ellie was in immediate danger. I quickly ran in between the two and raised my hands to show I wouldn’t attack him. He wore a mask over his face and was clad in a black leather jacket and jeans. He gestured over to the ring that was still in my hand. I refused; he posed no real threat except for the gun, but he wasn’t even holding it against me. He gestured once more, this time accompanied by a thumb sliding across his throat. I didn’t move but I stayed vigilant, looking for where he might attack from.
The thief feigned a left punch and quickly switched, smacking me to the floor with the butt of his gun. The ring box fell from my hand and into the grass. He bent to pick it up, but as he did, Ellie jumped on top of him, knocking him over, but he was far from unconscious. Without a second thought he raised his gun to Ellie’s chest and fired three shots that sounded like fireworks. I saw her drop to the ground and –
Three atoms left. The pain was only getting worse. I had to bear it. I HAD to.
Finally, I found myself back atop the hill. The thief slid his thumb across his throat once more. I wouldn’t fall for his fake attack again. Pretending to block his punch so he wouldn’t commit to it, I switched to defend against the real attack. Catching the gun, I wrestled with him for an eternity. Punches were thrown and kicks found their target, but neither of us gave up. I was getting weaker though. I knew I wouldn’t be able to keep it up for too long. Suddenly, the fireworks broke my concentration. It was the same three as when he shot Ellie before.
My lapse was enough for the mugger to aim his gun. BAM! BAM! BAM! Again, it was the three in quick succession. Again it was the synchronized with the fireworks, Again, Ellie fell over.
‘I need to go back!’ I screamed in my mind….
