Other Reads: Daily Reads | Recommended | Audio | Genres | Newspaper Submissions
Harper Whispers
“We’re going to die,” he whispers. His voice is low and raspy. Our hands intertwine; he pulls me close. His breath is hot and smells like stale whiskey. It always does. We’re so close that our foreheads are bumping against each other. I want to take a step back and at the same time get closer, to taste his lips. In my mind, his mouth tastes like candy and his lips are smooth as spider silk, instead of dry and tasting like alcohol.
“What are you talking about?” I ask, and he gives my hand an encouraging squeeze. He doesn’t need to explain. I knew this was coming, now it’s upon us. He’s been drinking, drowning worry with cheap alcohol and cigarette smoke.
“Don’t worry, love,” he says, “I’ll get us through this.”
I don’t believe him. I have no reason to believe him. He’s drunk.
“You can’t get us through this,” I tell him. “We’re going to die.”
“Don’t worry, love,” he says, “I’ll get us through this.”
I don’t believe him. I have no reason to believe him. He’s drunk.
“You can’t get us through this,” I tell him. “We’re going to die.”
“Yes, love, we are,” he says sadly, “but we’re going to die in each other’s arms.”
I don’t even mention that we’re going to be hung separately, as all prisoners do. Somehow, I get the feeling he already knows this. Harper has been in here more than I have. He’s the one that got us here. But somehow….I still love him. “Harper,” I start, “I….”
He’s smiling at me wearily. “Yes, I know.” He places a hand gently on my back. “And I love you to.”
I don’t even mention that we’re going to be hung separately, as all prisoners do. Somehow, I get the feeling he already knows this. Harper has been in here more than I have. He’s the one that got us here. But somehow….I still love him. “Harper,” I start, “I….”
He’s smiling at me wearily. “Yes, I know.” He places a hand gently on my back. “And I love you to.”
I smile back. “I love you more.”
Then he pulls me in and kisses me.
And even though his lips are dry and taste like stale whiskey, I still believe they are the sweetest things I’ve ever touched.
And even though his lips are dry and taste like stale whiskey, I still believe they are the sweetest things I’ve ever touched.
♦♦♦♦
The morning of the execution, me and Harper stand in front of the hanging tree. Our shoulders brush against each other, our heads knock together. I settle my head in the crook of his shoulder, close my eyes, and draw in a sharp breath. A hot tear wells but I try to pretend it’s not there.
"Harper Mattison and Sora Lucy, you have been charged with accounts of thievery and breaking and entering,” the mayor is saying.
I’m barely paying attention, listening to Harper’s gentle heartbeat through his shirt. It never once quickens, like none of this is a new to him. The thought makes me want to cry harder.
After a long speech, the mayor whispers something to the executioner who nods and slips a noose over Harper’s neck. Harper is still calm but I break out in a series of hiccups and wailing sobs. All eyes turn to me. The executioner pauses, looking confused. He looks to the mayor who urges him to continue.
I choke down the rest of my tears, sniff, and hold up a hand. “Wait.”
The executioner halts with his hands on the rope.
I lean over and whisper something into the executioner’s ear. He looks baffled for a moment, then he shrugs and slips a noose over my neck, too. Harper looks at me incredulously. “What are you doing?!”
I just smile and calmly slip a hand into his. “Now we can die together.”
And through the sadness in his eyes, Harper smiles back.
“Together,” Harper whispers.
"Harper Mattison and Sora Lucy, you have been charged with accounts of thievery and breaking and entering,” the mayor is saying.
I’m barely paying attention, listening to Harper’s gentle heartbeat through his shirt. It never once quickens, like none of this is a new to him. The thought makes me want to cry harder.
After a long speech, the mayor whispers something to the executioner who nods and slips a noose over Harper’s neck. Harper is still calm but I break out in a series of hiccups and wailing sobs. All eyes turn to me. The executioner pauses, looking confused. He looks to the mayor who urges him to continue.
I choke down the rest of my tears, sniff, and hold up a hand. “Wait.”
The executioner halts with his hands on the rope.
I lean over and whisper something into the executioner’s ear. He looks baffled for a moment, then he shrugs and slips a noose over my neck, too. Harper looks at me incredulously. “What are you doing?!”
I just smile and calmly slip a hand into his. “Now we can die together.”
And through the sadness in his eyes, Harper smiles back.
“Together,” Harper whispers.
“Together."
And then the noose snaps tight.
- 1426 of 2329
- Summer Gal's blog
- Login or register to post comments
Aww! I love your story. I
Aww! I love your story.
I love that it doesn't sugar-coat anything.
I love that they got to die together (although it is sad that they died).
And the last line was a perfect way to end. I mean, again, it's sad that they died, but... okay, I'm babbling. Haha sorry.
LOVE IT.
Thank you! I'm glad that you
Thank you! I'm glad that you liked it. When I was writing it, I figured that if they were going to die, they should at least die together. I couldn't sit there and let Sora watch Harper die.
Again, glad you liked it and thanks for the comment!
Summer Gal.
That was amazing.
Rogue
Very intriguing!
I want to know more about these characters! Your first scene is especially interesting, seeing how Sora reacts to Harper--she pushes away but wants to be closer at the same time. How long have these two been together? What was Sora's first impression of Harper? Does he drink a lot?
Are the two regular criminals, or was what they did a one time thing? What were they after? Did they get it? It must be a very important item to be sentenced to death for stealing it--I thought that was a pretty harsh punishment.
Oh, I was so hoping they'd find a way out of their sentence! Did they really have to die?
~FL
From your fellow writer
YWP Intern
I loved this. It makes me
I loved this. It makes me want to know more, like about the characters' backgrounds, but it works incredibly well just as a short scene. Wonderful.
Wow! Thanks for all the
Wow! Thanks for all the comments, guys! I really appreciate it... :)
To everyone-thanks! I didn't expect so many comments so soon! Actually, I didn't really expect any comments at all! Haha!
To Fey Lady-I had them die just cause I wrote it as a sadder story. If they lived, the story wouldn't even be a short story. I suppose it would seem unfinished to me...thank you!
To RougeArtist, Konrad, and BookLover, thank you! I'm glad you liked it.
Again, thanks for the comments! :)