Chapter 1:
What started as a normal day for the peace officer soon became a nightmare for the small city in which he worked. The early morning light had him awake and getting ready for his day off. He had a few errands to run, and his love would be joining him. Driving through the city, on their way to the mall, he again noticed something about her that had been becoming more and more apparent to him lately. She felt distant… like she was pulling away. He’d tried giving her some space, some freedom, but that wasn’t working. He had a nagging feeling that something wasn’t right, but she would always reply that he was imagining things, so he figured that he was. He tried to push the thought from his mind as they approached the mall. It was an unusually busy day at the mall with extra shoppers being present due to a special event being held there; something about a technology expose…
After visiting a few stores, they approached the event and she excused herself to go use the restroom. He began to peruse the many tables full of inventions when the air around him suddenly seemed to feel different. Instinctively he began scanning the crowd as his hand moved towards his weapon. A moment later, a small explosion rocked the crowd and sent a large barrier toppling onto his leg pinning him down along with a good-size piece of shrapnel into his chest. Pain shot through his entire left side and he drew his weapon. Fighting back the pain and trying to stay conscious, he overheard the attacker’s voice above the chaos, “Yes, run! You will all pay for the injustice that has been done to me! I’ve rigged this place to blow and quite a show it will be!” As the madman came into view, he sighted down his handgun and demanded the bomber reveal the bomb's location. While all of this was happening, he began to wonder where she was at and if she was ok; then, amongst the injured cries he caught a glimpse of her by the restrooms ducked down inside the doorway.
The bomber replied while pulling out a revolver, “You’re in no position to demand anything.” And in that instant, both men fired with the officer striking the madman in the chest, incapacitating him, and the officer receiving a wound to his right side, but freeing the dozens of people whose exit was blocked by the madman. Then she ran over to him with tears streaming down her face. “What’s going to happen now? We have to get you out of here!” And right there, in that moment, he saw in her eyes what he could never see before. The realization struck him harder than the impact of the bullet. She no longer loved him in that way. She didn’t just want freedom; she wanted to be free, from him, from the city… from everything. Unaware of how much time they had, he looked deeply into her eyes and saw that she now realized he knew. He smiled just barely, and whispered as he winced in pain, “Say no more…
Go, and don’t come back. You don’t have to wait for me, you’re free now… Don’t look back.”
Chapter 2:
As she begins to find her way out, a single tear rolls down his cheek. Although she meant the world to him, he knew that not only he, but she, was beyond saving and it would have to end that way. He couldn’t help but wonder if all of the time and effort he had invested in making things work was pointless and done in vain, but it didn’t matter now because in a few moments it would be over… She would live free, and he’d be lost forever; but he must let her go. He leans back and closes his eyes waiting for the inevitable. His last view on earth was of her making it outside, into safety… never turning back. Knowing this was bound to happen anyway even if he lived, he spends his last seconds remembering back to the good times. The days when… the room erupts around him as the explosion sends a shockwave that is felt for miles.
And then it was over; he was gone and she was off to a new life, a new beginning with no regrets. The violent explosion was recorded and viewed by millions across the world… The true level of heroics that went on inside the mall would never be able to be described in words, yet tales of his bravery and sacrifice would bring several to tears. How one man single-handedly gunned down a madman and lost his life and love all at the same time… It would later be revealed that the madman had planned to take several people hostage and execute them one at a time until he met his end, but an off-duty peace officer apparently ruined that plan.
~End~
What started as a normal day for the peace officer soon became a nightmare for the small city in which he worked. The early morning light had him awake and getting ready for his day off. He had a few errands to run, and his love would be joining him. Driving through the city, on their way to the mall, he again noticed something about her that had been becoming more and more apparent to him lately. She felt distant… like she was pulling away. He’d tried giving her some space, some freedom, but that wasn’t working. He had a nagging feeling that something wasn’t right, but she would always reply that he was imagining things, so he figured that he was. He tried to push the thought from his mind as they approached the mall. It was an unusually busy day at the mall with extra shoppers being present due to a special event being held there; something about a technology expose…
After visiting a few stores, they approached the event and she excused herself to go use the restroom. He began to peruse the many tables full of inventions when the air around him suddenly seemed to feel different. Instinctively he began scanning the crowd as his hand moved towards his weapon. A moment later, a small explosion rocked the crowd and sent a large barrier toppling onto his leg pinning him down along with a good-size piece of shrapnel into his chest. Pain shot through his entire left side and he drew his weapon. Fighting back the pain and trying to stay conscious, he overheard the attacker’s voice above the chaos, “Yes, run! You will all pay for the injustice that has been done to me! I’ve rigged this place to blow and quite a show it will be!” As the madman came into view, he sighted down his handgun and demanded the bomber reveal the bomb's location. While all of this was happening, he began to wonder where she was at and if she was ok; then, amongst the injured cries he caught a glimpse of her by the restrooms ducked down inside the doorway.
The bomber replied while pulling out a revolver, “You’re in no position to demand anything.” And in that instant, both men fired with the officer striking the madman in the chest, incapacitating him, and the officer receiving a wound to his right side, but freeing the dozens of people whose exit was blocked by the madman. Then she ran over to him with tears streaming down her face. “What’s going to happen now? We have to get you out of here!” And right there, in that moment, he saw in her eyes what he could never see before. The realization struck him harder than the impact of the bullet. She no longer loved him in that way. She didn’t just want freedom; she wanted to be free, from him, from the city… from everything. Unaware of how much time they had, he looked deeply into her eyes and saw that she now realized he knew. He smiled just barely, and whispered as he winced in pain, “Say no more…
Go, and don’t come back. You don’t have to wait for me, you’re free now… Don’t look back.”
Chapter 2:
As she begins to find her way out, a single tear rolls down his cheek. Although she meant the world to him, he knew that not only he, but she, was beyond saving and it would have to end that way. He couldn’t help but wonder if all of the time and effort he had invested in making things work was pointless and done in vain, but it didn’t matter now because in a few moments it would be over… She would live free, and he’d be lost forever; but he must let her go. He leans back and closes his eyes waiting for the inevitable. His last view on earth was of her making it outside, into safety… never turning back. Knowing this was bound to happen anyway even if he lived, he spends his last seconds remembering back to the good times. The days when… the room erupts around him as the explosion sends a shockwave that is felt for miles.
And then it was over; he was gone and she was off to a new life, a new beginning with no regrets. The violent explosion was recorded and viewed by millions across the world… The true level of heroics that went on inside the mall would never be able to be described in words, yet tales of his bravery and sacrifice would bring several to tears. How one man single-handedly gunned down a madman and lost his life and love all at the same time… It would later be revealed that the madman had planned to take several people hostage and execute them one at a time until he met his end, but an off-duty peace officer apparently ruined that plan.
~End~
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