Make a new life

The woman was hunched forward, hands on her knees. ‘You go on.’

‘I’m not leaving you.’

‘I’ll hide. If we stay together we’ll both be caught.’

‘Mom, you have to keep going.’ The man stared anxiously down the dark laneway.

‘I’m too slow. You go. I’ll catch you up.’

‘We’ll never find each other.’

‘We don’t have time for this. I’ll hide; you go on.’

The sound of voices drifted up from the valley.

‘You can do this.’

‘But not fast enough. Please, go. Make a new life.’

‘Mom.’

‘Go.’

As he crested the ridge a shot rang out below.

A drabble is a story of exactly 100 words.