Too late

Keith's Ramblings

00

‘

I heard a voice, a soft voice. That of a girl. From where it came, I couldn’t make out. 

‘Follow me,’ she pleaded, ‘please’.

I was then I saw it, a shadow stretching out from behind a wall. As I stood and stared, a tear stained face appeared. 

‘Why?’ I asked.

‘Follow me and you’ll see’, she said.

‘I don’t want to’, I replied.

‘You must, please,’ she begged, and with that, she and her shadow were gone.

I felt a touch of guilt, so with trepidation I did as she asked.

She dashed down a dark alley. I could hardly make her out, but her shadow flickered as she passed a couple of lit windows and a dim lamp.

‘Hurry’, she shouted.

‘I can’t keep up’, I yelled, running as fast as I could. 

‘You must’, she screamed.

‘I’m losing you’, I gasped as I stumbled to a halt, struggling to catch my breath. 

She and her shadow disappeared from view.

‘Where are you?’ I bawled.

‘

I stood alone in the gloom, not hearing a sound, confused by what just happened, unsure even of where I was.‘

‘It’s too late’ she whispered in my ear, though she was nowhere to be seen.

‘It’s not’, I sighed, ‘let me help you, please’.

‘It’s too late’, she wept. 

‘Forgive me’, I murmured as I strolled into the darkness beyond, her voice still echoing in my mind.

*

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Thanks to Sadje for hosting What Do You See? 

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Image credit; Tom Barrett @ Unsplash

21 thoughts on “Too late”

  2. Sadje Apr 22, 2024 / 17:20

    Such a poignant story. The sense of urgency in your story is very gripping. Thanks for joining in Keith.

    Liked by 1 person

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  5. Mason Bushell Apr 22, 2024 / 21:02

    A poignant and yet mysterious story. I loved the real sense of urgency and feeling of the mans energy decreasing as he ran after the girl. Well done, Keith.

    Liked by 1 person

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  9. Jules Apr 24, 2024 / 23:08

    Sometimes we are very reluctant to chase our own fears… and then to face them. Not listening to our intuition can cause us to protect our fragile egos or cause us to loose something that should have been found.

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  11. Dale Apr 30, 2024 / 20:43

    Oh! You had me breathless and torn that he didn’t make it!

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