This is cross-posted (again, and rather late) from my live journal, and is again based on one of Angela Goff’s wonderful Visual Dares. Comments welcome either here or there. Enjoy!
Everyone else had their eyes covered, and some were carrying slices of onion. Nadia refused. She had no intention of hiding. One of the boys behind her actually had an old-style gas mask that might have belonged to some English or German great-grandfather, and he made to hand it to her.
“Take it! You’ll need it if they start spraying tear gas.”
“Not if. When,” a granny walking behind her muttered. Nadia shook her head at both of them.
“I’m not afraid! Thank you, but no.”
The boy shrugged and dropped back behind her. As Nadia strode on, the granny reached up and patted her shoulder. “Brave girl! Is this your first time?”
“Yes.” Nadia felt the breath catch in her throat, for she saw the soldiers in front of her, by the wall. Her soldiers. Her people. Would they really fire tear gas, and worse? Would they shoot at peaceful protesters?
Well, and if they did? She had come here for a reason, and that reason was peace. She wouldn’t let soldiers stop her.
She lifted her chin, tossed her long, blonde hair over her shoulders, and strode forward.
