Red and Blue

     A bright red light flashed through the sky. A burning sensation flooded through his knuckles as his fist made contact with a brick-colored wall. It wasn’t fair. He tried his best to block out the pair’s giggles, but it was no use. “Stupid,” he sputtered to himself. Another blow to the wall. His face felt hot. “So stupid.” His wounded hand hit the brick once again. None of this was fair, this wasn’t what was supposed to happen. She had promised. Another hit. She promised. He removed his hand from the stone wall, examining it carelessly. Dark bruises and torn bloody scrapes were scattered across his peach-colored skin. Red took in a breath, wiping his eyes. 

    He leaned against the wall, sitting down and bringing his knees to his chest. Their laughter continued to linger in his ears. Red looked at his hand, watching as dark crimson blood dripped from his knuckles. The blood would have been orange if it wasn’t for him. Red wouldn’t even have punched the wall if it wasn't for him. Red would have been dancing with Yellow, watching as their pigments mixed into a bright sunset orange. But no, Yellow had chosen Green. She had laid in Green’s arms as Red watched their pigments shift to lime. Red sighed, finally getting his breathing back to a regular pace. Maybe it was for the best. He remembered Yellow’s face. How happy she looked. How happy both of them had looked. She deserved this. She deserved to be happy. Red knew that the two of them were meant to be together. He couldn’t take that away from them.

    Red continued to stare at his hand. But when was it his turn to find love? Everyone he had ever been close with has already found their match. Why hadn’t he found his yet? He placed his head in his hands, ignoring the painful stinging. He imagined them. He imagined what color they would become together. There were so many possibilities. But they were never going to happen, he just knew it. He exhaled, wiping his eyes once more. His pigment had darkened into a wine red. He wasn’t the bright candy red he had been before, no, that red was dead and gone. He was alone. Alone with his whole life ahead of him. He pulled his knees closer to his body, hiding his face from the rest of the world. 

His cherry-colored eyes opened as he was awoken from his temporary sleep. He had heard something. Slowly, he got up but froze as everything around him was pitch black. Red put his hands in front of his face, he could feel them but there was no indication that they were even there, it was too dark. His body tensed as panic set in. Had he died in his sleep? Was this what hell is like? Cold, empty, and alone. Just like he felt. Red’s ears perked up as he heard another sound, identical to what had awoken him. It was a quiet sniffle. He felt around recognizing the wall. He listened close, slowly making his way closer and closer to almost inaudible breaths. His hands wrapped around the non-visible corner of the wall and peeked behind it. There was a boy, sitting in the same position that Red had been sitting.

    The anonymous boy was a dark midnight blue, barely being visible in the surrounding darkness. Red hesitantly walked closer, being extremely cautious. He didn’t want to scare him. He looked so fragile. “Hey,” Red whispered, slowly stepping closer. The other boy looked up, his eyes were a bright electric blue, he had sapphire-colored tears rolling down his cheeks. “Hi,” the boy squeaked, voice cracking. Red frowned, he wanted so much to hug the boy. “Do you know where we are?” Red questioned, crouching down to the boy’s level to not seem as intimidating. The boy shook his head. The two sat in silence for a little while before the blue boy spoke up. “I just remember feeling so,” the boy looked at the nonexistent ground. “Alone and scared.” He finished, chewing on a piece of his hair. 

    Alone. That was exactly how Red had felt. Maybe he wasn’t alone. No, this- this boy right here was proof. He wasn’t alone. “What’s your name?” Red asked, standing back up. The boy looked hesitant, pushing his bangs out of his face. “Um, Royal.” the boy, Royal, answered. “Royal Blue.” Red smiled, extending his hand. “I’m Red, Red Berry.” Royal returned the smile, a powder blue blush forming on his face. At a slow pace, he lifted his hand, gently placing it in Red’s hand. Red pulled, helping Royal onto his feet. A fluttery feeling passed through both boys as they stood next to each other, still hand in hand. The two watched as the darkness around them faded, being replaced with a dark purple sky speckled with lilac stars. Their eyes met once again and both let out audible gasps. Royal’s dark blue began to lighten into a soft violet color. Red watched as his arm began to change color as well. His normal wine red pigment had become a dark magenta. 

    The two looked at each other in disbelief. Everything around them had faded into purple shades. The sidewalks were a cloudy mauve, the brick walls had changed into the colors of a plum. Even the moon straight above them seemed to have a calming lavender hue. The world seemed so much brighter now. The two of them had a purpose, the two of them mattered. The two of them had each other. And that’s all they would need. 

-Allitini