Roof-top Birthday
The stairwell door opened and three soldiers appeared. Ellis’ face grew pale. Her father, in anger, shouted at the men, seeking answers. Without hesitation a soldier drew his sidearm and fired on the man, the bullet piercing his right eye.
The mother screamed as she fell to her knees, tears erupting from her eyes. Through the salt water she starred at her love as red pooled around his body.
Ellis was in shock. She didn’t cry or scream at the wrenched site, but only stare.
The soldiers saw no threat on the roof. Two of the three returned into the building. The third, the murderer, holstered his weapon and approached the mother. The soldier ordered her to stand, but she continued to mourn. Frustrated the man grabbed the mother’s arm and pulled her to eye level. “You will answer me or I will kill your daughter.” The woman’s tears halted with a sniffle as she gave attention to the soldier. She nodded. The soldier asked his first question, “Are their any other residents in this building?” The mother shook her head. “Have you housed any travelers in the past two weeks?” The mother shook her head. The soldier studied her face, searching for falsehood in her words. He found none. “You’ve saved your daughter.” The soldier walked the woman to the roof’s edge and threw her off. He watched as she fell three stories.
The soldier stared at Ellis, copying her torn, red into his mind. He paused at the door. “It was good seeing you again, Ellie. Sorry I forgot to get you anything. Happy birthday, sis.” The soldier disappeared through the doorway.
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