Standing at the entrance to the forest, hands clasped, fingers intertwined, they both look straight ahead trying to see through the canopy to the other side.
He feels her heat radiating against his arm, and she wills her heart to beat in rhythm with his.
Across the threshold lies their freedom, all they need do is step forward. Still they linger outside the lush woods. Songs of hidden birds echo around them, as if pleading for them to draw nearer.
The faint snap of a broken twig tells them their pursuers are coming.
Turning towards her, he kisses a tear trailing down her cheek.
“Our path is ahead,” he whispers. “We can leave behind the anger and hate. We can live in peace and these hazards of love never more will trouble us.”
She thinks on his words, and knows there is no future for them if they stay. Looking over her shoulder towards their village, she sees the men of her tribe crashing through the trees after them.
“I know not what waits on the other side,” she says, pulling him into the shadows, “but I am not afraid if you are with me.”
I’m probably aggravating the moderators of these writing prompts/groups by combining themes, and not dedicating separate pieces to each… but, I do so enjoy participating and I know if I don’t combine them sometimes, I miss doing them.
Thin spiral notebook 
No complaints here. This is beautifully done. I could feel the emotion of the ending.
LikeLike
Beautiful picture. Captures the mood of the post well. Thanks for visiting my blog.
LikeLike
Really lovely. I’m so glad I found your blog through NaBloPoMo. I’m looking forward to exploring more.
BB
LikeLike
How you conjoined prompts and kept the story in flow were brilliant.
Some of your finest writing. Bravo
LikeLike
All the questions left unanswered here are killing me — where are they going? Love the imagery.
LikeLike
Combine away!
You’ve captured that moment on the cusp so beautifully, the space where going forward into the unknown is just a footstep away.
LikeLike
It was a little like this for me when I got married… the unknown part, not the angry horde part. Immediately after we married, we moved 100s of miles away from our families and friends. It was scary, but we were together.
LikeLike
You’ve captured the whole spirit of Hazards of Love in this piece, are you familiar with it? Lovely, Tara. Thanks for linking up!
LikeLike
I’m not familiar with that particular song, but I do have other tunes by The Decemberists on my playlist.
LikeLike
I love your photos, as well. The problem is – if I bought your photos, where the hell would I hang mine?
LikeLike
Maybe we could work out a trade. I love your art as well.
LikeLike
It’s like two of my prompts in this sweet beautiful story! 🙂
p.s. LOVE the new look, so far it’s my fave of all your designs
p.p.s. small typo “Our path is head,” (ahead?)
LikeLike
Thanks for the catch on the typo… I’m glad you like the two-fer (three-fer).
LikeLike
that kind of love is the best kind, the kind that the most powerful stories and emotions come from.
Leaving is always scary but there is strength in that number , 2, isn’t there?
(also as far as combining prompts, I have done it since the beginning. I’d rather read anything you write, combined or otherwise, than not have your words in my internet. COMBINE ON, my friend.)
that picture is so affecting. Another one I’d like to buy. 😉
LikeLike
I’ll take that as permission… thanks, Kir! You’ll be one of the first to know if/when I finally offer photos for sale.
LikeLike
I hope so. I plan to buy a boatload! (I love your pictures as much as I love shoes. Yep, no kidding)
LikeLike
That is quite a compliment, thank you!
LikeLike