“Rebirth”

Author’s Note: This is a Take Ten to Write story and has not been proofread for errors. If I feel inspired or if there’s interest in the story, I’ll post a revised, edited, and extended version at a later date. Happy reading!

As she stood at the top of the cliff, one thought and one thought only ran through her mind:

I’ve failed.

Her home burned beneath her. The smoke rose in front of her. She reached out to snatch it out of the air, but it slipped through her fingers. It mocked her.

Tears cascaded down her cheeks as she crumpled to her knees. It was her fault that they hadn’t been prepared. It was her fault that they hadn’t been warned.

If only I’d gotten there sooner. If only I’d run faster. If only…

A scream tore itself from her throat. It echoed over the mountains, scaring the birds that nested there. It blew through the forest, shaking the leaves to the ground. It shot through the ocean, making waves violently crash into each other.

When she opened her eyes, the fire was gone. But so was her village.

The world around her had been stripped clean. It was ready to be rebuilt.

It waited for her.

Final Comments: The scream and rebirth thing was an on-the-spot decision. I think it’s more interesting than just having her sitting there crying, though.

Overall Rating: 😅