Creative Writing

Prompt: "There are three children sitting on a log near a stream. One of them looks up to the sky and says…"

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"Do you believe there is an elsewhere?"

"An elsewhere?"

"Yeah," Nona nodded, still starring up.

Vance stayed quiet like usual. He shifted slightly on the log. Vaughn grumbled when it swayed underneath them. "I've thought about it before," He mumbled. "I-I mean… there can't be just death- right?"

"I think it will just be a form of escape and blackness," Vaughn said. His eyes drifted over to Nona for a moment before snapping back down to the grass. She was still facing the heavens but her eyes were shut.

Vance nudged Vaughn's shoulder slightly, his eyes wide and curious. He frowned. "What do you think's going on with her?"

Looking back once more he let his gaze linger on Nona. Her eyelids were twitching as if she was dreaming in sleep. Lips parted slightly, Vaughn could see her breath leave in a small cloud.  And her fingers fumbled with one another- lacing together elegantly. She was definitely pondering something.

Vaughn wanted so badly to keep watching. This was nothing like he'd seen before from Nona. It was a peaceful version rather than her usual closed-off, dark demeanor. Before he could slap him silent, Vance had spoken up.

"You alright, Winona?"

Non'a dark eyes opened slowly and turned to the two boys- one looker rather awestruck while the other seemed worried. "I will be," She nodded. "These feelings are fleeting." Her words hung in the air thickly as she stood up from the log. It was common nature for Nona to speak this way. Sometimes Vaughn wondered if she'd always been so deep and thoughtful- or if something might've caused her to.

Vance stood and followed Nona, brushing off the dirt on his backside. But the messy-haired boy stayed put. Vaughn, too, looked up to the sky and shut his eyes like Nona had. Red and orange color played behind his lids- the sun filtering through the skin. He sighed and began to feel himself plunder down into his own mind. Where did they go after life? Were the things he felt for Nona, the breakfast he had this morning, the last memory of his mother… was it all to be history some day? Would they all filter into the ground, crumble to dust, and be forgotten history?

His eyes flicked open. Vaughn's chest began to rise and fall faster. Running a hand through his hair anxiously, Vaughn could feel the thoughts cloud. No, he thought, there's more than just this. There has to be. There must be. 

There has to be.