Barricades by James D. Irwin

He thought the girl in the threadbare coat was beautiful. He would come by every day after school, hoping to catch a glimpse of her walking by. She wasn't pretty, not in the way girls were supposed to be pretty. She wasn't blonde. He was captivated by her in ways he didn't understand, and didn't think he ever would.

He couldn't speak to her. He hoped he’d be able to, one day. There had been no sign of her for three days now, but still he waited, undeterred. He was up on his toes, his body straining for a better view.

A long passage of time passed. He didn't mind. His mind was off in a distant future where he and his sad angel were together and happy and peaceful. A heavy finger fell on his shoulder, and fantasy faded.

The soldier, a granite-faced monolith dressed all in black, pulled the boy away from the barricade. Darkness had begun to fall. The boy ran home, longing for tomorrow.