Swollen (Final Chapter)

they talked throught the night as the candle burned down, exchanging the stories of their lives. then finally, they just sat in the stillness, listening to the walls of the old house breathe. he thought about his life, the work, the family, the love... all gone. she whispered, 'be still, they're coming...' the lights of the cruiser inched up the street. stopping, they shone a light into the old house, like fingers probing. they sat motionless, afraid to move.. finally, they moved on. 'they'll be back, someone's called...' she began to cry. he sat up and dug in his pocket. pulling out a wadded up old black and white photo, he straightened it out, taking out a fifty dollar bill. 'i want you to have it... when they go to chasing me, take the baby, and run...' before she could say anything, he was up and out the door. he crouched in the bushes at the end of the drive. when he saw the cruiser coming, he stood up and let out a whoop. he took off running as fast as he could go, trying to put distance between them and the old house when they finally cornered him, one street over, he put up a struggle. as they beat him to the ground with their batons, he imagined he could see the lights of a car going down the street. it was the last thing he ever remembered!