Ficly

Post-Fight (challenge part two)

“You gotta learn to fight, kid,” I said, though he wasn’t much younger than I. “I’m not gonna be here every time, an’ you can trust they’ll be back.”
The boy said nothing, though he was clearly searching for words. I ripped a strip from the hem of my floral skirt and wrapped it around my wounded fingers.

I left him saying nothing, and began to walk back to my book.
“Wait!” I heard him shout behind me.
“What is it?”
Turning, I saw the boy was on his feet now, slowly walking forward. “That was epic! How does a girl…”
He stammered at my raised eyebrows.
“…a person learn to fight like that?”

“I’ve had to fight for every day of my life since I was a kid. ‘Cos this world… it don’t care ‘bout you or me. We ain’t important, so we have to fight. That’s it.”
He looked as if the whole world now rested on his shoulders.
“See you round, kid,” I said before turning and walking to my book, hoping I’d never see him again.

View this story's 3 comments.