Red wrapped present

Her eyes flicked down to the red floor. Sadness skittered across her face like beetles, covering the stark confusion and leaving only disappointment when the insects crawl back into her cracks and shadows.

But there were no beetles, only her small voice as she asks me, "do you not like your present? I picked it specially for you."

"I know you did honey, but this isn't a present and you realise that, don't you?"

"I picked it for you, you used to love these you told me so yourself. You said you said you said you-"

"I know, I know, it's alright, take a deep breath with me okay? Just try to calm down yeah? I love my present very much honey thank you for it."

"You said you love these ones."

I look down at the man, dried blood running from his ears and mouth, the way his legs are bent at odd angles and how his chest barely moved. But when I look back at her, her grin is so wide and her eyes so bright that my own chest caves. I pull her into a tight hug and thank her again. But with my face concealed from her view I let my frown crinkle at the pool of blood seeping from the man.