Milomi's world

This is a story about so called war. It is merely a battle, almost a fight. However, it is also about emotions felt and the urge to save someone. It is about letting go but holding on. It is about being most alive while about to die.

BOUND

Elva was at the mall. It had been a long day, and she was at the food court. Waiting in a line for her milkshake. She was about to grab it when she heard a gunshot.

She opened her mouth to scream but nothing came out. Fear clouded her vision as she pushed chairs out of her way. John – her husband, was with Max, their son at the other end of the court. She could see them, running towards her – beckoning her to the exit. When she heard another gunshot. This time – much louder. And louder voices. And silhouettes.

Elva hastily made sure John and Max were fine and rushed them towards the staircases. They ran for their lives, John carrying Max. They found the nearest pillar and took cover. The gunshots were thudding every twenty seconds or so. Max was crying, scared. His parents tried to console him. They were waiting for the shadows of men to freeze before making for the doors leading outside. Till the shadow was upon them.

The first thing that Elva registered was that it was a man in a black suit, not a shadow. Secondly, she ushered John and Max towards the exit and tried to defend herself from the man. John was arguing but Elva did not budge. The man was approaching Elva, a gun in hand, murder in his eyes. He took aim and fired.

In that moment many things took place. Max had run out of the mall, his nanny having spotted him, took him home, leaving a message for Elva. John, having just realized a bullet was heading for his beloved, immediately pushed her to the floor. Elva, somehow had sensed the man behind her screamed loudly. The bullet took a different course, finally shattering glass.

After sharing a brief glance filled with gratitude, apology and concern, the couple got up, determined to fight and run. Elva recognized the man as a convict from the newspaper two weeks ago. He moved towards the exit, blocking it. Elva and John watched in disdain as their plan failed. The man had noticed them and had them trapped and was not going to move.

John took the risk and got up slowly, putting his hands over his head. The vicious convict shook his head and shouted that he didn’t care about the innocent. But this was payback for prison and life. Besides, he was near to broke.

Elva could see his lip twitch as he spoke, and she knew what was going to happen. Her heart in her mouth, she quietly warned John of the upcoming bullet. He mustn’t have heard Elva for he stood just as stiff. Elva tried her best to tell him, but his stubbornness got the better of him.

The man kept on talking, bringing John at ease. It worked. And all of a sudden, like Elva had known, shot John in the calf.

John cried out, an ugly cry. Elva rushed over to him and did her best to help him. She dragged him to a corner and tied her scarf around his deep wound. Tears stinging her eyes, she met John’s. He whispered that he was going to go to heaven soon. It hurt.

Elva was telling him that everything would be fine, already calling 911. She realized that Max was safe. An invisible weight she didn’t realize she was carrying slid down her shoulders. Another one piled on.

The convict aimed for her and fired. And it hit her shoulder. She was raging now. The bullet tore her apart. The pain shot up her body, more pain that tears could carry. She felt anger. First hurt someone she loved and then her.

Collecting herself, she hid herself behind a wall along with John. Painfully she crawled across and to the back exit. Elva and John held on to each other. They got out and limped through waves of pain to an ambulance which Elva had called.

They held on for God knew how many hours. Elva was still raging. They were innocent and targeted. What was this? How unsafe was earth? Lives were not valued, money was.

Once she found some privacy, she shouted at the sky. She shouted for innocence with hatred and rage. She shouted for justice.

Written by
Milomi.

Image source: https://wallpaperplay.com/board/3d-guns-wallpapers