Lone Bullet
The first words he ever said to her were a lie.
As eyes close to think back upon a relationship that wasn’t as bad as either made it seem, that is the lone thought swirling inside of the labyrinth of the limbic system.
Normally, this would seem odd, the lack of thought, but right now it seems appropriate. There are not many other things to think of at a time like this, a moment of ultimate judgment.
Not so much a moment of right vs. wrong or good vs. evil, but more of a final euphoric release of emotions that have been building for way to long.
These feelings, although kept inside incubating and brooding for decades, are still as raw as the first draft of a great writers’ autobiography. And yet, there is no outward expression of this. The face stays in the standard half scowl it’s been carrying around for what seems like eternity.
The dry eyes that haven’t shed tears for years remain shut. This is the closest to the feeling of relaxation the heart has been given for as long as can be remembered.
The lungs are no longer hot and heavy, the palms no longer sweaty.
The constant spasms of muscles have ceased.
A deep breath is taken, then another.
The eyes open and the slight light from the early morning rays seem to illuminate everything around the dark chasm of the gun barrel.
Gaze drifts up into another set of eyes equally as dead, although an excessive amount of tears from the past have not weathered these eyes.
They are bloodshot.
They are hollow.
They are the void.
Seeing a finger slowly start to pull back on the trigger he mouths the words “I love you” and closes his eyes tightly.
The gun goes off with a sound that is anything but satisfying. Almost a whisper compared to the roar that was expected.
Everything is dark.
Eyes open.
He’s alive.
She is anything but.
He observes the gruesome scene that has unfolded, shakes his head, and walks away without another word.
He understands.
She wanted to be just as dead as he was.
This was the only way.
Not a glance back, not even a stutter step but the single thought in his head changes:
The last words he ever said to her were a lie.