it happens in slow motion

you aimed, and you fired

even though they said ‘wait’ it didn’t matter- they’re always telling you to wait for something, and so you never have the time to do anything

you feel the atmosphere change and the pressure switch and everything turn in that familiar way that a storm brings and you grin and they

frown

you feel the energy transfer and you prepare for the impact of electric shock. you survey and you see that they are so close to the target

so close, too close, fatally close but you can’t stop it now

it happens in slow motion and you cry before you see the flash you scream and run and by the time thunder sounds they’re collapsed on the ground, 50,000 volts shot through them in fractions of seconds

and you are right there and you are wishing you waiting and you hate this so much they have to be ok

they have to be ok this is not the first time they’ve been struck it has to be

ok