CAIDEN

My shoes struck the cobblestone streets, gravel shrapnel being launched from beneath my every step. I thundered down the hilly road, slipping and skidding on the ground, turning quickly and falling upon my already scarred and callused hands as I leapt over the short stone wall and began to skid down the leafy and muddy hill. 

I twisted and aimed myself quickly so I was almost leaping down the hill, my quick and agile hands catching and using any branch or vines as hand holds as I skittered and leapt down the steep hill. My feet caught stray fallen vines and clumps of dark, soft and nearly muddy earth, slowing me down enough to give time to allow my reflexes the ability to work. I began to pick up speed as I  slid and slipped more as I descended the hill, starting to get worried about not being able to stop myself if need be.

“Sarn! Sarn! G-get back here you stupid coin!” My voice called out to nothing in particular, muffled from the sound of leaves crushing, mud and dirt squelching against each other and branches snapping and creaking. I needed to get that silver piece, Dad would kill me if he lost another one. I stumbled down the hill till my foot caught on a branch, slipping as I teetered and nearly launched forward. My loud gasp got lost as I went head over heels, now crashing down the hill. I shut my eyes as I felt the sharp pain of the branches cracking against my tough but exposed flesh and my already torn brown shirt. A sharp pain stung deeply into my hand as I scrambled to grab a rock, quickly slipping and most likely cutting my hand open.

After several painful and rough moments, I felt myself finally land upon the spongy dirt, cushioned by lush and smooth grass. I groaned and turned onto my side, pushing myself onto my elbow. My vision became filled with black dots as my elbow quickly yelped in pain, leading to a verbal and sharp inhale, collapsing back onto the ground and my back. A few moments later, my ragged breath had returned and I began to examine the damage that was done to my body. 

I seemed fine besides a couple scrapes and bruises, but those were common, and I got them all the time on the streets. The only truly concerning thing was a nasty and long gash coming from my left index finger down through my palm and to my wrist at about a forty-five degree angle. It was stinging and quickly leaking streams of crimson blood.

“Crick! That hurts!” I inhaled sharply, my lungs still stinging from my pursuit down the steep and muddy hill. I lay there for another couple of moments, each second perfect as I gazed at the bright and wonderful blue sky, the pain dying down and the black spots vanishing. Today was rare, because only for about two months a year did the sky ever reveal itself and its wonderful azure horizon. The other six months used dark but beautiful clouds to cover that beautiful sky, often accompanied by sweet and cascading rain, leading to some of the most beautiful and stunning plants, farms and forests.

“Are you alright?” A kind and soft voice asked behind him. It was light and calm and kind and absolutely wonderful. Whichever girl had a voice so beautiful must have a face twice as beautiful. I arched my back and neck, leaning my head back further to see which face matched that angelic voice. Leaning over me was an absolutely beautiful and kind face that was slim and as pale as the moon. My eyes, like always, scoured across the person’s face in under a second, learning every detail, that was what I was really good at. Dad always said I was good at it, learning and memorizing faces. 

I could remember faces better than anyone else. I could vividly remember the face of the kind, older woman who gave me a bucket of fresh apples. I could remember the face of the guard who threw my own cup of stray coppers and coins at my head, leading to a welting bruise and a scar. I could remember nearly every face of every girl I had ever fallen for but this face was by far the most alluring and exquisite, shining the moon itself.

My focus ended when they connected with the person’s eyes; sapphire gateways to heaven which held such beauty and wonder, it was immeasurable, but the beauty of the eyes did not bring me to hold the prolonged contact, it was the kindness; the sweet, calm, and momentous kindness that, like a lighthouse, guided everyone to a place of joy, warmth and calm.