Original: Short Story: Love

Title: Love

Fandom: None

Characters: Original, unnamed
Rating: PG
Word Count: 179
Summary: A box is discovered. What lies within it is a bit of a shock.
Content Notes: Reads like poetry.
Written For: Challenge 286: Box.

( Love )

"A box."

"Oh."

"Yeah."

"Are you going to open it?"

A shrug. A scratch of the head. "Dunno."

A roll of the eyes. "Give it here."

"Here."

Anticipation. A trembling hand. Sweaty palms. 

"Just do it."

"Okay, don't rush me."

Fingers prying. Cardboard tearing. Tape clinging and getting stuck before being balled up and tossed carelessly away.

"Huh."

A dead bird. Broken neck. Yellow and green feathers, bright even in death. Black eyes coated in a thin, graying film. A bed of sticks and strips of red cloth -- like blood.

"That's not what I was expecting."

"Me either."

The sound of small feet pattering across the tile floor. A broken sob. A young child's hand reaching up. 

"You found him."

A nod. A hand squeeze. A hug.

Clumsy folding of cardboard. Gathering of tools. A simple wooden cross and stone as a marker. Upturned earth. A smattering and smoothing of dirt.

A few words spoken, and lost on bitter winter winds. Tears shed. A comforting hand. Being carried back to the warmth of the house. 

Love.