Colorado Blues

Colorado Blues - Andrew Esparza (Morton Ranch High School, Ninth Grade)

The sun lit the Colorado sky ablaze as it sank below the horizon; giving one final cry of light out to the world before being slowly swallowed by the ocean. Clouds hung high overhead and were lined with vibrant, dancing shades of orange and red. It appeared almost as though a brush had painted them against the skyline. Large jagged rocks lined the beach, standing tall and still; almost statue-like against the blowing wind as they stabbed into the sky's faded blue flesh. Tommy was seated upon the tallest rock he could find and kicked his feet against in a child-like manner. He occupied himself by admiring the water as it glistened and gleamed. The way the water reflected the fiery aura of the sun against its surface made him smile. Tommy hummed to himself as the wind pushed against his body. He clasped his hands tightly onto the rock and imagined he was a part of it. 

Like the light along the water, Tommy began to reflect upon himself. His thoughts, unlike the rocks, were fragile and seemed to crumble and collapse to his feet. The light from the sun began to fade, and his time began to fade alongside it. It would only be a few minutes before the sun completely sank beneath the ocean. 

A ticking sound–reminiscent of a clock–began to echo across the beach as a human figure emerged from the water. A tall and slender woman, perhaps Tommy’s age, surfaced. Her fine auburn hair stuck to her shoulders and she wore light robes of white that hugged her figure. The robes slowly trailed behind as she gracefully approached him; her bare feet glided over the fine white sands of the beach, and a cold breeze was left in her wake.

Tommy’s heart began to race in sync with the ticking of the clock. Suddenly, memories of a life he hadn’t lived intruded the fortress of his mind, plaguing his sense of identity. Things he never did began to haunt him, and he was as filled with regret as the beach in front of him was filled with water. The woman seated herself beside Tommy, staring intensely into the ocean with him. A fire seemed to burn within her eyes; one that warmed his heart. Together, they watched as the sun finally faded from sight, and after a moment of silence, Tommy gathered the courage to speak to her. 

He asked, 

“Do you think we can fix this?” 

She cleansed her crimson lips with a serpent's tongue. 

“No.” 

“Do you think anyone could forgive me?” 

The clouds floated overhead lifelessly like a corpse in the water. Any color they had before was now gone. “No.” 

“…Do you think it was all for nothing?” 

Tears slid down his face as he longingly awaited her response. 

“Yes.” 

His head lowered to the floor as he sluggishly slipped his hand into his pocket. 

The shadows dance across my eyes and settle into the thoughts that suffocate me they take me away from here to somewhere I can be to somewhere I am to somewhere we could’ve to somewhere we should’ve 

“Then I think we’re done here.” 

Tommy pulled his nine-millimeter out of his pocket and then set the barrel against the roof of his mouth. Tears began to stream faster down his face, and his hand trembled as he removed the safety. The metal filled his mouth with a cold and bitter sensation that reminded him of his actions. 

Tommy’s shoulders heaved as he began to sob silently and to nobody. The world wouldn’t hear him anyway. He rested his trembling finger as gently as he could on the trigger. 

Suddenly, he was met with a calming wave of reassurance. The woman had rested her hand upon his, greeting him with a warm sensation. She gazed into his eyes and he steadied his trembling. Tommy closed his eyes, unable to bear even the slightest glance back into hers. It hurt him too much. 

Tommy wrapped his finger tightly around the trigger, breathing in one last time. 

And then it was over. 

Everything had gone dark. 

Through the darkness came a voice, soft and feminine. 

“Was it worth it?”