kxboom:

_{FIVE   WORD   PROMPTS  : NOT ACCEPTING}

   _{SELDOM   DOES   SERENITY   FIND   HER  ;   she’s   got   one   day   without   the   weight   of   the   world   lodged   in   the   holster   on   her     hip   &   she   spends   the   dawn   of   it  in  her   element   —   running  .   jeremy   swears   insanity   when   they   both   leave   the   house,   her   on foot    &   him   on  four   wheels   but   she   simply   knocks   a   hand    against   the   passenger   &  tells   him   to   hurry   up  before   he’s   late   for   parade   again   .}

    _{running   is   less   an   act   of   exercise   but   rather   a   moment   of   clarity  for   katherine,   an   outlet,  her   therapist   declared   when   she    picked   it   up    after   elena’s   death   .  at   first, finding   comfort   in   the   solitude   was   difficult,   frustration   driving   her   in   juxtaposition   to  healing,   however,   she    finds   it   grounding   now,   a   way   to   understand   both   her   body   &   mind   —   thus   when   her   phone   rings   two  &  a   half   miles   in,   she’s   vaguely   vexed   .   it’s   probably     jeremy     forgetting     something     per     usual,     nothing   that   can’t   wait    another   fifteen   minutes   as   she   makes   her   way   back   to   the   apartment   .}  

    _{it’s    the     second     time     he     calls     that     she   stops,   albeit   not   fast   enough   to   catch   the   call   .   she     presses     the     voicemail   notification   first,   turning   up   the   volume   in   her   headphones   to   hear     five   words,   the   brevity   tightening   her   chest   .   ( she’s   young  &  on   a   plane   back   to   america,   his     hoodie    covering    her   small     frame   &   elena’s   hand   tethered   to   her   neck   in   some   semblance   of   stability  .   she’s   sixteen,   hugging   strangers   with   her   sister’s   dead   name   on   their   lips   &   her   phantom   hands   claw   at   her   throat  .   she’s   twenty   three    &   —-   )   she   can   breathe  .   hand   pressed   to   the   junction   of   her   collarbone  &   neck,   katherine   breathes   slowly,     dissipating   the   pressure   within  .   if   he’s   in  danger,     she’ll   know   what   to   do  .   if   he’s   hurt,   he’ll   be   okay   .  she   can   handle  it  .}  

   _{jeremy   answers   when   she   calls   which   soothes   her   shaky   hands   ;    he   tells   her   he   got   an   accident   on   the    way   to   work,   nothing   too  serious,   cuts   &   bruises   mainly   .   the   reason   he   called   twice   was   because   he   couldn’t   find   the   insurance   card   (   it   was   in   her   wallet,   of   course     )   &   she   wants   to   throttle   him    for   using   such   a   pressing  tone   but   she    also   understands   it   likely   panicked   him   too  .    they   eventually   agree   to   meet   back   at   the   house   after   the   paramedics   clear   him   —-   and  subsequently  drop   him  off   .  (   she’s   lucky    they    have   friends   across   the   board   .   )}

   _{she   mindlessly   finishes   her   run   after   hanging   up   with   jeremy,   getting   back   to   the   apartment   before   him   .   the   inquietude   lingers  &    she   works   to   suppress    it   with   mundane   chores   until   he   comes   home  .  (   affectations   of   ease   only   fool   those   who   don’t   care     to   look   closely   ;   he   could   map   her   blind   .   she   doesn’t   like   to   let   her   darkness   eclipse   him  .   )   the   sound   of   the   front   door   sends   the   laundry   she’s   holding  to   the   floor   &  her   nearly   running   to   meet   him   .   helpless   hands   cup   his   jaw,   tilting   his   head   back   &   forth   as   a   means   of   inspection   .  (  her   unbreakable   boy  .   she   thinks   she’d   wage   wars   if   it   meant   nothing   more   would   touch   him  .   )}      

                                 _{❜    you’re     sure    you’re    okay    ?      ❜}

    _{her   hands   slip   down   around  his   waist   where   she   envelopes  him,   hiding  her   face   in  his  chest  .   she     breathes     easier     with    him    here   but    still   wants   to   hold   him,   a   tangible   reassurance   of   safety   .}

                                        _{❜   promise    me   ?     ❜}