Deployment

My mornings start pretty much the same now that I’m too big to go on missions. I open my eyes, wait for the sky to streak blue, then pink…wait for the sun. I listen to Erix. He snores. Not loud—just enough for me to know he’s there, he’s home. I didn’t hear him this morning and I panicked a little, pulling my heavy body up just as he opened the bathroom door, already dressed in jeans and layered shirts, and wearing the brown boots we’d argued about last night. Knowing I was checking him out, he grinned, glanced at his feet and winked at me before turning to the mirror. I love that he listens to me; I told him the brown boots were best.

He pulled on the thick sweater, tugging at it so it covered the guns stuck in the waistband of his jeans—one in front, another in back. I wasn’t sure how I felt watching him…proud, scared, a little jealous that I wasn’t going. I was Queen Mother. My grandmother and mother had birthed a revolution and now it was a war—ugly, bloody, necessary, and mine.

Erix caught my eye in the mirror and turned to face me, knowing me. “I know you wanna come with me,” he said, a mischievous smile curving his perfect lips. “I wish you could…pregnant insurrectionist…so sexy.”

I forgot to be jealous. Now, I just wanted a few more minutes with him. “You know what I think is sexy,” I reminded him.

“I know,” he assured me, “me coming home.”

We were quiet, our words lost somewhere between love and duty, and fear. For as long as I could remember, Erix had always fought by my side, and I, by his. I never, not once, felt fear going into battle. Now here I was, fearing being left behind.

Voices drifted through the windows, and up the stairs. The others were stirring. It would be time soon. Erix glanced at the window and crossed the room to sit beside me on the bed. He stared at me—brown eyes that memorized my face, and tried to ease my mind.

“Nitakupenda,” he whispered finally,

“You love me,” I translated.

Erix smiled. “Nitarudi.”

“You’ll be back.”

“Ninaahidi."

“You promise.”

Working Title: Deployment

Title: Somewhere Between Love and Duty (if I decide to develop the story)

Genre: Romance/Fantasy Adventure

Age: 18-45

Word Count: 377

Author: Karen Sullivan

Synopsis: This a one-pager I wrote for a workshop. I haven't quite developed the story but I liked the characters and thought I'd share.

Experience: I have no formal writing education or background. I just have a love for words and story-telling. My first published short story will appear in an anthology scheduled for publication by year's end. I'm stupid excited about it!