Flames. Licking out against my shins, the shadow of a nightmare of days gone by, I’m running. Run fast as you can, little girl, but you can’t get away, because fire, fire is a friendly foe. He will follow you no matter where you go, because you can’t get away from greed, not on this planet. He consumes and thinks of nothing but his own desire, his hunger, and all you will hear is his roar as he approaches you against the silence so loud, presses you down against the floor you must crawl against to avoid the smoke and soon you can’t breathe, soon you won’t breathe, because he is here to consume you, too, his fiery kiss on the hollow of your throat the last thing you remember.
You wake up in the middle of the night to realize it was all a dream, you’re safe in his arms now, but you can’t help but worry that perhaps this is another flame that will quench itself on your blood, he lusts for your blood as much as you lust for his love. Nowhere is safe from this selfish caring because all anyone wants is his own satisfaction, not happiness, not love, not joy, but just the answer to the fire in their bellies as they slither like snakes across the tile floor like you once crawled against.

The sound of crackling wood, of fire breaking its once-was friend to grow larger himself, he’s gaining on you and you’re about to break, to let go, turn into a puff of smoke and dissipate in the air, it feels so good to be released and intertwined with him but you want to be yourself, just once, once more.

Scars. He sees them now. Darling, where did you get these scars? he asks, but you can’t answer him, not honestly, so you fake a smile and tell him you don’t want to talk about it.

You’re screaming in the night again, age five, your flesh smells like burning, favorite nightgown singed, your nose stings, your eyes turn in their sockets and you collapse against the floor. Mommy and Daddy are nowhere to be found, and sister’s hair is lit from the inside like a beautiful birthday candle, but she’s screaming, screaming so loud, and suddenly you can’t hear anymore.

When you open your eyes next, you’re in a white room.

You’re in a white dress.

Your life will never be the same.