Free When She Falls by Jez Strider

she took the stick and held the white puff over the fire. Very quickly it was ablaze.
    “I think you’re roasting that a bit much.”
    She shrugged, pulling the flaming marshmallow out of the fire. A deep inhale followed by a blow put out the fire revealing a no longer squishy, sugary puff, but a burnt and blackened snack. “I like them like this.” The food went directly into her mouth.
    Logan was hysterically laughing. “You’re a weirdo.”
    “I know.”
    “Hold out your stick and I’ll put another one on there.” He’d snatched the bag of marshmallows from her.
    She held her stick toward him as she stared up at the clear night sky. “Under the stars again, like our first date.”
    “Do you think you could live like this forever and be happy?” He whispered, following her gaze briefly. When she didn’t look at him , he took the engagement ring out of his pocket.
    “Forever isn’t long enough.” She closed her eyes and smiled.
    Logan carefully placed the ring on the stick securing it on the fork at the end. “Look.”
    Candice opened her eyes and gazed into her boyfriend’s before following the direction he was pointing. There wasn’t food at the end of the stick. No, this was shiny and sparkly. Her hands shook as she fished the precariously perched ring closer.
    This is happening .
    Finally, it was in the palm of her hand and she extended it slowly toward Logan without saying anything.
    “So? Think you want to become Mrs. Harworth?”
    “I don’t think so.” The silence was beyond awkward. Candice took Logan’s hand and placed the ring in it. Her mind went blank so it was a moment before she could compose her words and extend her hand with fingers outstretched. “I know so.”
    “Scared the shit out of me, Candice.” He grinned, shaking his head as he slipp ed the engagement ring onto her finger. “This is the happiest moment of my life. Aside from the day we met and every day since that I’ve been able to spend with you.”
    There w ere no more words she could say. Instead, she pressed her lips to his and toppled him over onto his back with the force of her body. Consummating the engagement in the backyard and under the stars was her best response.
     
    While the rest of the world kept turning, the teenage boy, whose name would become synonymous with small town tragedy, loaded the last of his father’s guns. His backpack held most of the collection, aside from the one he planned to conceal underneath his coat. He knew what he wanted to do and he was ready.
    Growing up had been hard. No harder than many others he knew. He was normal. His father had been hardcore and ex-military, but supportive of his son’s pursuits.
    The shooter, named Carson after his father, didn’t fit the stereotypes on the outside. He played sports, dated, and had mor e friends than he could count. But something had always been off. Then, when he began to see all the coverage of shootings and attacks in the media, what can only be described as hollowness began to consume. He wanted the same notoriety as the others. No. He wanted more. Perhaps, he would begin to feel something. And if he didn’t, well, he’d have at least made the effort.
    Carson lay in his bed. The house was empty for t he weekend. He tossed and turned unable to sleep. It wasn’t his conscience, but an eagerness to spill the blood of the cattle he secretly despised. He refused to be herded any longer like a dumb animal. School, church, the mall, and even the grocery store made him feel like he was being ushered from point A to point B.
    Yes, tomorrow was the day. He would destroy the organized pathways. Chaos would reign in his hometown, if only for a short time.
    Tomorrow, they will all open their eyes .
    It was his final thought before he fell asleep for the last time.
     
    Logan smiled across the breakfast table at his fiancé. “I must be getting old. My back is killing me from rolling around on the ground all night.”
    “You’re not