Friday Snippets: I Hate to Say Adieu

Thank you guys so much for you input last week! We've reached the section of this story that originally started the whole idea: the bike. That's right. An image I found online of a refurbed bike started this whole story rolling, and now, my friends, we have arrived. Last week, Dell was reunited with Roy, her estranged lover and in the same snippet, she made the decision to leave his side and broke his heart. This week, she begins her cross-country journey...

Let me know what you think and definitely leave a link to your own snippets! I will be able to get to them fairly quickly this week because I've got most of my work out of the way.

Copyrighted, do not reproduce, material liable to change. Etc.

Dell waited until Roy had moved further into the dark to bow her head into her hands. She was cold now that he was gone, now that his weight did not pull her toward him as he leaned on her bedside. She wiped her at face, furious at the hot tears streaking her face and the dead weight dragging her heart down into her feet. She heard Roy moving somewhere in the dark of the basement, searching for something. She straightened, exhaling any regret or fear in a rush.

She was cold now that he was gone, now that his weight did not pull her toward him as he leaned on her bedside.

"You're going to leave now for real aren't you?" Caleb whispered. She started at the sound of his voice, but could not stop the slow nod of her head. He closed his eyes. His fingers twirled in Corleone's fur. "You love that man. A lot." She nodded again, her throat thick with left over guilt. She stood, brushed back his bangs. "Get some rest, boy," she said. She held her hand over his eyes until she felt his lashes brush her palm, warm with tears. She pulled her hand away and he did not open his eyes. It would be better if he didn't watch her leave.

She felt her way through the dark until she found Roy's hand. Silent, they stood there in the inky black and she could feel the beat of his heart through his fingers. So long they stood and she swore she would never let herself forget that moment. He guided her hand to the cold stock of her brother's shotgun. He pulled away and did not touch her again. "I'll strike a match for you, but I don't have any more fuel to spare," he said. "The doors at the top of the incline are open, but you may have to force your way through. I've loaded some ammo and supplies in the saddlebags."

"Roy-"

"No," he said. The murk deepened around them, Dell was sure and she bowed her head. She heard the rattle of matches. A small star bloomed at the tip of Roy's fingers. She saw her brother's refurbished WWII motorcycle, loaded with saddlebags and a scabbard strapped beside the front wheel.

She shouldered on the coat he'd laid across the seat with mask and goggles. Each moment the light burned down was agony. She did not cover her face just yet, letting the mask hang around her neck and pushing the goggles back on her head. As she kicked back the stand, she swung her leg over and slid the gun into the scabbard. The bike rumbled to life. She found Roy's eyes, smoky green and shadowed beneath his long black bangs. Only a moment of light was left between them.

The match blazed down, down to his fingers. Dark. Only dark. Dell pulled on the gasmask and goggles, roaring up the incline and out into the dull red glow of the end of the world.

So say we all.
Bri

p.s. I'll post a picture of a papa-san later this weekend. Promise :) It's the most comfy chair on earth.