The Finding

part two

He walked up the railroad tracks, somber and alone.  It was his habit to do so, morning and night.  Today he did not expect much, save to be criticized, as usual.  Expectations, however, always have a way of being failed or exceeded.  He knew this, and was not surprised when he saw a girl about his own age running towards him.  He caught her in his arms and held her close.

'I've been waiting for you," she said.

"I know," she whispered.

The two joined hands and started to run.  To anyone looking--and plenty of people were looking, as the ate train went by--they were two far from safe teens, running away as if it cost them their lives.  The two, however, thought nothing of the spectacle they might have been producing.  Their hearts had become one, and nothing else really mattered anymore.

When night fell, the two found a soft pasture in which to sleep.    They were alone, they were together, and that was all that mattered.  For a few hours, their exhaustion overtook them, and they slept quietly.  

She awoke first, for dreams had tossed and turned her into consciousness.  He sensed her awareness, and sat up, pulling her close.  

"You know what happened," she said quietly.  

"Of course I do," he said gently, softly.

"It's not the first time, is it?  It's not just me, right?"

"No," he said softly.

"How many others?"

He took her hand and led her along.  They walked for several hours, each in complete silence.  When dawn finally broke, they found themselves standing at the edge of a canyon.  Down below, several large tents and a few dozen smaller tents housed a small community of teens.  

"They're just like me, aren't they?"

He nodded as he held her in a close embrace.  Her body was still as a bone and delicate as a flower.  

"Why?" she asked.

He turned her and looked her in the eye. 

"Death does not always win."

As she looked down into the canyon, into the miniature city of teens just like her, she realized that this was what she had been searching for all along.  Death did not always win.  

Author's Note

how is it? i need help on my short stories.

Reviews

[Haunzwürthe]

Sleep on it. Let it sit and percolate for a day, week, maybe a month. Then look at it with fresh eyes. This is something from your mind. If it sits right with you, then so be it. But you might find that you want to add, omit, or change things. Let it evolve. Personally, I'm wondering what or who Death is, why she was saved, and the purpose behind it. Stephen King would argue that details like that aren't always pertinent if you've read any of his short stories. Here's a link that I found extremely helpful that got me out of a writer's block. :)

http://jerz.setonhill.edu/writing/creative1/shortstory/