#missing rose

I wish I knew how sacred the ordinary was when you were still here.

I wish I knew that the sigh you made when you flopped down next to me was a prayer.

That your sideways glance while I scrolled mindlessly was a quiet plea: Look at me just a second longer.

I wish I knew your ‘annoying’ bark at the mailman was a hymn—I’m here, I’m alive, I’m yours.

That your fur wasn’t just fur, but a map I’d trace with my fingers one last time.

I wish I’d memorized the exact weight of your head on my lap, the rhythm of your snoring at 3 AM,

the way your paws smelled like grass and dirt after rain.

Most of all, I wish I knew heaven wasn’t a place up there,

but right here—in the crumpled bed you left behind,

in the ghost of your wagging tail when I open the door to nothing,

in the way my heart still calls your name

every single day.

I would have loved you louder.

-------------

“The girl wasnt there.” 

Cinder hesitated as she heard those words from Tyiran. Those four words seemed foreign to her. “What do you mean she wasnt there?” 

Tyrian smirked a bit as he looked towards Cinder, quickly letting that smirk go as he looked towards Salem. “It seems that she died when Beacon fell. I went to find her, just as you asked, and I did find a group that is on their way to Haven as we speak to talk to the headmaster there. But the silver eyed girl you’re looking for just wasnt there. And when I mentioned her name-” he started to laugh a bit as the thought came to him. “-you should’ve seen the way they hurt when that girl’s name was mentioned! It was like music to my ears to hear their pain about it.” 

Salem looked towards Cinder, watching the girl go silent with a hurt expression on her face. “This certainly will not do. Young Cinder was ready to finally face the girl who did this to her, but if she’s dead, then there’s nothing that can help it..” She slowly started walking away from the arena, letting out a heavy sigh. “Although, now that she no longer has her target in her sights, I think that means she needs a new one, dont you think, Tyrian?” 

“Why of course! I’ll gladly find another-” his words were caught in his throat as he watched a fiery blade fly mere centimeters from his face. He slowly turned to Cinder, who was kneeling on the ground, head down and arm outstretched. “You really think this is wise, girl?” 

Cinder didnt answer, slowly standing up and creating another sword in her hand. After hearing that Ruby was dead, something had snapped inside of her. She looked up at Tyrian, her remaining golden eye seemed void of any emotion. 

Tyrian made himself read, getting his weapons out as he circled around Cinder. “I’d rather not kill another one of the Goddess’ followers, but I’ll take pleasure in ending-” 

Without another chance to get a word out, Cinder launched herself forward with the maiden powers, slicing at Tyrina with her sword. Tyrian moved out of the way as he felt the nick of burning steel sear his flesh, watching as Cinder quickly stopped herself, creating more blades each time she touched the ground. Without a word, he started fighting back, blocking each blade as they tried to strike, keeping up with Cinder’s movements. 

“You’ve got to do better than that if you want me!” Tyrian taunted. 

Cinder took his taunt as a challenge, stopping for a moment before unleashing her anger and her sorrow in a fiery explosion around her.

1) not troubled enough to be plural