I was looking out my open window watching the colorful sunset. The yellowish hue matched my golden hair. Another day had gone by and all I could think about was how I had done nothing to save him. Kaitlynn, it wasn't your fault, a quiet female voice whispered. I gasped and nearly fell out of my window. I looked around my room carefully to see if anyone was there; my green eyes were alert. Were my ears playing tricks on me? It was empty as ever. Or was it? a raspy male voice asked, which flooded me with guilt. Tears threatened to overflow my eyes as memories washed over me. Even though I had relived that moment a thousand times, the pain and loss were sharp as ever.
~the memory~
We were walking down the dusty gravel path. I looked up to see a familiar darkness illuminated by a white figure - the moon. My little brother and I were coming back from the woods that were a few country blocks down. It had been a day of fun playing around in those beautiful woods - the wind whispering through the branches as we climbed up trees. But now it was dark and we needed to get home.
"Did you have fun in the woods, Peter?"
"Yeah, it was a lot of fun. You really used to go there everyday?"
I smiled and laughed.
"Well, of course I did. I didn't say it just to say it."
A voice still says to me now, as I replay these memories: It's okay. How were you supposed to know what was going to happen?
We both laughed, oblivious of what was to come next. Two figures stepped from the shadows in an alley we were passing by. They were strong looking, even though they were also looking poor and dirty. One of them, who had black hair, held a gun.
One of the strange boys came up to Peter. He held the gun against my little brother's head. The other one eyed my bag that I had taken with me. "Looks like they might have some money. Or we could kidnap them and kill them after asking for ransom." Very quickly I figured out what was happening. I sprang into action as my brother looked on, his brown eyes wide with fear.
I ran up to the one holding my brother. He turned the gun towards me after shoving my brother away, but not quick enough - I came up under the gun and punched him in the face.
"Peter, run!"
Peter saw that I was in trouble as the two kids tried taking the bag from me. One had me pinned to the ground as the other pointed a gun at my face. In a last struggle, I flung the bag in Peter's direction while hoping they might get up and go after it.
Right now, the angry voice still echos: You idiot. You should have thrown it the opposite direction.
I was right and they did go after it - but Peter had picked it up and went running. It was still a long way to our house, and those boys were catching up on him. What could I do? The nearest house was back a few blocks. I had to chance getting help.
You should have never gone back there. You should have ran after him.
I started sprinting towards the house that was a few blocks back. Just then I heard a gunshot ring in the air. I looked back to a horrific sight: Peter was on the ground. No!
I quickly turned direction and ran as fast as possible, until I thought my legs would fall off and my lungs would explode. The boys ran off with my bag, but it didn't matter anymore. Peter, is he okay?
He was bleeding badly. It looked like a shot to his head. "Come on, Peter, I'll get you up." But he didn't react. It was like he hadn't heard me. Through silent tears, I lifted him up and tried carrying him home. It was only after I got to the front door of our house that I noticed he stopped breathing.
~memory, over~
The voices were echoing in my head now. "It was hard for me too. I tried to save him."
You should have tried harder.
He would be alive right now, smiling at you, if you had tried harder.
"No! It's not my fault!" I screamed, all my pain echoing in my voice.
But in my heart, I knew it was.
this. character. fails.