Blood and Tears
She hadn't had a new dress in years and she'd saved for months to buy this one, checking the rack every time she came into town to make sure it was still there, peeking at the price tag in hopes it would go on sale. So it was with a sigh of relief and more than a bit of guilt at her self-indulgence that she gathered her package and headed for the door.
That's when she spotted it – a honey gold and brown checked shirt with buttons the color of his eyes. He'd never owned a new shirt, only hand-me-downs from his older brother with re-sewn pockets, mismatched buttons, patched elbows and, until he was six or so, bloodstains on the shirtsleeves from their daily fights. It was an easy decision.
"Excuse me, I just bought this dress, but I'd like to return it and ……"
She smiled as she left the store, imagining how handsome he would look in his new shirt, never knowing that the vision in her mind was the only one she'd ever have.
Four days later, Ennis del Mar wore his first brand new shirt for the first time. The pockets never used, the brown buttons all alike, the elbows unpatched, and the sleeves free of blood.
They were, instead, covered with tearstains.
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218 Words