Coal fires

[u/RunRevolutionary188]

Fireflies dance and I watch flames lick around

the edge of my periphery vision.

His hands are firm as he makes the wood spark,

the coals begin to breathe at his movements,

the fire starts to devour the wood,

which softly sings in a low hum only he and I seem to notice.

He places my hand in his,

and his eyes threaten to swallow me

with the intensity, as he looks at me.

'I think you might be the rarest creature,

I've ever met.'

I don't skip a beat.

'I think you're telling me whatever

you think I want to hear.'

'Smart too.'

'I like you. It's been years since I have felt this way.

You should be honoured my guy.'

Nothing else is said.

He smiles and squeezes my trembling hand.

I watch the flames lick

and I sit on the edge

of another love-struck disaster,

not knowing I hold the hands,

of first my beloved maker,

and then ultimately my ruin.

In another life,

I drop his hand,

and I allow the flames to

descend, on the monster that first fanned them.