Estimated reading time — 21 minutes

Tink tink tink tink tink….the soft sound echoes through the room. My hands shake, my heart races and my eyes go hazy with unshed tears locked onto his hand gripping the gun handle like a vice. I bellow out in a broken pleading cry dropping to my knees, gripping onto his jeans like a lifeline. “PLEASE…JUST LISTEN TO ME JACK!” My heart is pounding so hard I feel it threatening to break through my chest. “Just stop Claire, I need this.” The sound of Jack’s broken voice stung like I had been kicked in the stomach. Tears stream down his face along with mine “NO NO NO PLEASE…there has to be something I can do, just don’t do this, Jack. Please, I’m here for you.”

He paused, but only for a moment before he spat out harshly. “You don’t understand how I feel. YOU DONT FUCKING KNOW ANYTHING!” Without a second to comprehend, I shout “WAIT JACK NO!”

With those last few words of his that cut me like a knife, I see a bright flash followed by a loud bang. I stay completely still on my knees as I watch the blood spurt out all over the walls and everything in its path. I feel the warm liquid all over my front half enveloping me in a warmth I’ve never felt in my life. I watch as his body falls onto the ground with a loud thud. My eyes lock onto the golden cross around his neck, covered in bright red blood. I weep as I wrap my hand around it and pull it off with one smooth yank. I wrap my arms around myself curling into a ball on my knees, cross in my hands, screaming like a wounded animal.

I look down at his once beautiful sweet face and I’m met with something not even the devil could stomach. Half of his face was blown off; bits of brain matter were scattered in his smooth, soft, brown hair. Half of his teeth looked like they had been carelessly placed in his cheeks instead of his jaw. The side of his face was blown open like a rotten orange split in half, and those eyes those gorgeous brown eyes that I had once fallen so deeply in love with the same ones that had once been full of life and determination now blank and lifeless.

I set up on my knees and I wrapped my arms around his chest and with his limp heavy body in my arms and I pushed myself up against the wall dragging him along with me as I pathetically waddle to the nearest wall. The wall is covered in everything but paint. I watch as bits of brain matter and skull bits slide down the wall slowly.

My chest sputters like an engine in an old car as I struggle to breathe, hyperventilating as I let my back press up against the warm wet wall with Jack in my arms. I rest the back of his head on my shoulder gently stroking his head where the hair stays untainted by brain matter; the blood drenches my clothes and skin, I can feel it staining my soul. “oh jack…my sweet boy.” My voice doesn’t even sound like my own; it’s scratchy from crying. It’s pathetic and desperate, like someone pleading for forgiveness. His brain and broken skull bits slosh around like some fucked up gas station slushy. Some of the warm liquid pours out onto my arm and drips until it pools in my lap. The thick goo along with his now room-temperature blood has clung itself onto my jeans, seeping into my pores. I stayed like that for hours…actually I don’t even know how long I stayed there and I didn’t care to move. After what felt like a lifetime of me holding him his body began to smell.

The faint smell of rotten meat covered in honey filled the room, covering my clothes,and choking me as I held him close. His blood began to solidify with the prolonged air to his open wound, his skin was a sickly blue, and was cold like the crisp air of winter. All I could do was sit and hold him. I couldn’t bring myself to look at his phone that held the date and time,I couldn’t even bring myself to let go of him. The sun had come and gone multiple times and I hadn’t moved, or slept, nor eaten in however many days I had been there acting like a corpse myself. We were both alone in the bedroom of our house on the outskirts of town,I had picked the house out, and now that privacy is really paying off.

The blood on my body eventually starts to itch and the smell is making me nauseous. I look down at my still blood-covered hands and arms and I finally let his body lie on the floor gently. I take a shower using Jack’s body wash and cheap 2-in-1 shampoo and I scrub for what feels like ages. I don’t feel clean…I don’t think I ever will, his blood is inside of every pore on my body, staining my bones with regret and guilt I didn’t know was humanly possible to feel. I change into a gray shirt, jeans, and a black pull-over sweatshirt that Jack had always worn,it smells like him and it makes me want to rip out all of the feelings I’ve ever felt.

I clean all of the blood up on the floor and walls for at least 4 hours with the bleach from the garage I finally charge my phone drink some water and I eat some of the 3 day old open chips that lay beside Jack’s body, they have a little bit of blood on them but I don’t care enough to stop myself from eating the entire bag. I needed to eat something and that’s the only thing I’d be okay with throwing up. I obviously need some sleep so I lie on the messy bed that Jack and I had once shared. As I pull the blanket up to my chin and I turn on my side I look down at Jack’s body just a few feet away. “He must be so cold.” I think aloud to no one but myself and god.

I stand up and I grab his ankles, gently pulling him. I forgot just how heavy he was compared to me. I miss his hugs. I had dragged him more than halfway to the bed. In my dazed state, just about a foot away from the edge of the bed I pull a bit too hard and his leg rips with a fleshy squelching sound. I stop and I immediately drop to my knees crying trying to reconnect his leg that had ripped at the knee. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt you sweetheart.” My voice cracks on the last word as I gently grab his face with shaking hands and place a kiss on what is supposed to be his cheek. blood covers my lips but I don’t care, I stand up and I wrap my arms around his torso and I drag him the rest of the way to our bed.

I changed his clothes into something clean and most of his head wasn’t bleeding but I still cleaned the wound like he was still in pain. “There we go all better, let me fix that for you my love,” I say sweetly as I grab my sewing kit and his leg off the floor. “It shouldn’t be that hard to sew alright ” I say reassuringly to Jack. I turn on a podcast as I sew him back together gently. I was done after about an hour so then I wrapped bandages around his head and drew a smiley face on them in place of his features. “You are even handsome in death, my angel” My breath ghosts against his neck as I hold him close and place a soft kiss on his temple. The podcast plays in the background on the TV as I drift to sleep.

The next morning I finally leave the house after the week I’ve spent inside tending to my boyfriend. I had called off work the days prior, as far as Nichole, my boss, knew I had a bad stomach bug. As I button my shirt up I check the clock on the bedstand at 5:45 AM blinking in soft red light. I’m about an hour early, like usual. Jack didn’t have a job so there was no one to call, no one to question, and no one to come looking. I work at the bakery that Nichole owns. Our families knew each other and we had grown up in the same town so I got an easy job with good pay. I slip my shoes on and I walk to the restroom to do my hair. I clip my hair back with two black hair clips.

I step back and stare in the mirror,I run my hand over my skirt, smoothing out the wrinkles that don’t exist. I look at myself closely and realize just how tired and sad I look. I put some makeup on then grab my cardigan and purse with a sigh. I walk over to the bed and lean down to Jack. Even with his face covered in gauze, I place a soft kiss on where his mouth should be. “I will see you this evening my love.”

As I settle into the cold leather of my car seat, I start the engine and turn the radio on. The drive into town is a familiar boring occurrence for me. The drive stretches on for about 25 minutes of my day where the world outside my window transforms into a boring series of blurred colors. After I finally reach the heart of the town, it’s another short ten minutes to the bakery where I work.

I step into the door of the bakery greeted by the delightful tinkling of a small bell that hangs above. Instantly, I’m enveloped by the heavenly scent of freshly baked bread and strong coffee. Just as I begin to settle into the ambiance, Nicole’s jarring voice cuts through the silence.“Hey Claire! I’m so glad to see you back and feeling better,” she exclaims, her smile wide and genuine. “I just hate it when I get sick.” I reluctantly make eye contact before speaking

“Yeah, for sure, it really took it out of me,” I make an effort to inject as much cheeriness into my voice as possible. The last thing I want is for my weariness to come through. I quickly slip my apron over my clothes, and slip on some plastic gloves, readying myself for the tasks of the day ahead.

The minutes fly by as I dart back and forth, filling orders with an unwanted smile plastered on my face. The bakery is alive with activity; customers come and go, each one adding to the overstimulating atmosphere.

As the clock reads 2:30 PM, fatigue begins to creep in. I realize I pushed myself a bit too hard last night, staying up later than usual to sew Jack’s leg back on. I’ve already tackled at least thirty orders today, and I can feel myself yearning for the comfort of home, the promise of Jack’s embrace filling my mind. Just when I think I might finally get a moment to breathe, an order for coffee comes through. I grab a cup and start pouring, my mind preoccupied with the thought of Jack’s cold hands on me. As I daydream, the coffee begins to overflow, splashing hot liquid over the cup and all over the palm of my hand. I’m immediately snapped out of my dazed state as I feel the burn of the coffee. The heat wraps around my skin like a warm hug. For a brief moment, I stand there with a blank expression watching the smooth brown liquid spill forth as the warmth seeps into my senses, a distracting reminder of the sorrow my soul has been heavy with. “Claire, what the fuck are you doing!?” I immediately stop and snap my head to the side to meet Derick’s gaze. “I-I didn’t mean to…to do that. I’m sorry.” I couldn’t care less about the coffee burning my hand. I miss Jack, his soft hands, his sweet cologne, and his arms wrapped around me. I don’t want to be here. I want to go home right now.

As I clean up the spilt coffee I begin to cry,tears dripping onto the already wet counter. My tears don’t stop like I wish they would,my throat feels like it has barbed wire around it,my hands shake as my chest starts to heave,my body wracking with sobs as I rest my head on the top of the coffee machine. “oh my god…Claire are you alright?” my eyes burn with sorrow as I look up to meet Derick’s eyes once more. “yeah,im alright,thank you.” i try my best to sound chipper and sweet but the pathetic shake in my voice is sweet in the same sense that the devil is an angel. My eyes are red and puffy with tears streaming down my face.

“Claire, I think you need to go home,I’ll cover your shift.” my lip quivers as I wipe my tears,I don’t want to speak with the risk of sounding pathetic once again but I quickly choke out a soft squeak of a response “thank you Derick.” he looks at me with pity,I know what he thinks of me and I hate it. I swear I can feel his eyes burning my skin,judging every secret I would never even dare speak aloud. I tear my eyes away from his and I quickly walk to the back room to grab my purse and cardigan. There is a wicked burn on my palm from the coffee I poured over my hand,it was a much different feeling than misery or guilt but I’m not a fan of any of the opinions when all I do is ache with longing.

not only do I lack my dignity now but I lack the faith my jack had once been so adamant about. What stands in its place is a newfound burning hatred for the god that demanded bloodshed and took Jack away from me. God took Jack away from me. My sweet Boyfriend …Jack’s oh so merciful god took him away from ME. He did nothing to deserve the death that came knocking on his door.The thought makes my blood boil with an indescribable type of blind rage. He didn’t deserve the hardship thrown at him,the pain and sadness, not even he could understand;so much so he claimed death was more bearable. I wish he would have just talked to me.

As I walk to my car I whisper to myself harshly “I could move mountains better than any god could,yet he chose his god over me.” I get into my car,slamming the door with more force than needed. I grip the wheel as hard as I can, twisting my hands on it like I’m revving up a motorcycle,the burn on my hand threatening to gush out blood from underneath the blisters that are blooming. I watch with a blank expression as I take my hands off the wheel and I use my uninjured hand to aggressively scratch and tear at the open wound on my palm,the flesh has blood gushing out of it and bright red flesh showing.if God demands bloodshed than i will do as he asks,for jack had a blind faith and now i must follow suit.i must understand why and i don’t care how long it takes me.

After a while it looks like an acid burn and my other hand is tired of scratching at it so I drive off and I go to the store. I don’t plan on leaving my house for a while,I just can’t bear to be without Jack,not even for a day and I need to start my research I stock up on Jack’s favorite foods and basic things like shampoo toothpaste and toilet Paper.the drive back home is silent,jack would always talk to me on the phone until I got home since I would always go to sleep really early.I wish I would’ve stayed up later with him…I wasted so much time. I bring the groceries in and put them all away,all nice and neat like Jack liked.

I study and read until the sun rises threatening me with its unforgiving heat and until the moon once again rears its head at me again taunting me with the sweet feeling of exhaustion. But nevertheless I continue to drag my eyes along with the ancient word of God as the letters try their hardest to jam together like water Swirling down the drain

I let my head lean against Jacks arm. Resting my head gently upon him. I am struck by the stark contrast of his cold skin against my own warmth, a shiver running down my spine at the contact. Jack’s body, ensnared in the grips of decay, shows signs of the second stage of decomposition, a haunting reminder that im loosing time to.bring him back. To preserve what remains of him,I keep the room at a brisk 40 degrees, the air conditioner laboring constantly to maintain the chilled atmosphere. The air hums constantly as i work. To keep his skin from rotting I’ve painstakingly filled his veins with formalin—a weak substitute for true formaldehyde, which I could unfortunately not get my hands on. Formalin is used for wet specimens rather than human corpses. Each effort I have done to keep him with me draws me closer to the edges of desperation and I refuse to stop,driven by a mix of love and dread, striving to hold onto what is slipping away, even as my days bleed into each other. Hours turn to days and I’m hardly half way done with the book even with the audio on my tv playing in two times speed. stopping sounds like heaven itself my hands ache and my head full of useless verses.

I let myself lean against Jack’s arm resting my head against it softly. His arm is mostly solid and cold to the touch I shiver at the contact. His body was deep in the second stage of decomposition but I’ve tried my best to keep him from rotting.I’ve kept the room a crisp 40 degrees with the air conditioner working overtime,and I’ve filled his veins with formalin. I couldn’t get my hands on true formaldehyde.

“You know, everything I’m doing right now is for you,” I say softly, my voice barely above a whisper as I gently wrap my arms around his rigid arm,feeling the leather like skin. For a moment, I pause, my heart aching as I take in his stillness. I inch closer, my fingers reaching out to caress his cheek, marveling at pale blue skin

I begin to untangle the bandage that binds the side of his face together, my fingers quickly working to unravel its tight grip. His skin feels cold and smooth reminiscent of new leather, yet I can’t help but feel that, beneath that tough exterior death has cursed him with there’s still hope for me to bring him back. only If i could weave my compassion into his wounds, mend what’s broken, and bring him back to me.

“Even the brightest of stars would envy the radiance you possess, my dear.” I place a tender kiss upon his lips,an attempt to bridge the gap between us, to feel the warmth of life I so desperately crave in this moment of stillness.

I run my fingers through his hair and I straddle his lap without breaking the kiss,I press myself so tightly against his chest it’s like I’m trying to feel his soul. The kiss is one sided but intense,I grab his arm and place it so it’s wrapped around my waist. I drag my hand down his chest softly then run my finger along his waistband just as my fingers threaten to pull down, There is a loud knock on the door making me jump and fall off off the bed. “damn it.” I hiss as I rub my arm. I slowly stand up and walk down the steps

I tear open the door with annoyance. “Nicole, what are you doing here?” I utter nervously, leaning heavily against the doorframe. “I’m merely checking on you, ” I cross my arms as she begins to speak again. “Derrick said you were being weird before you left, and you haven’t appeared at the bakery all week. What is wrong with you, Claire?” I hesitate, the words I long to say dying on my tongue—I want to tell her what happened to Jack, why I haven’t been at work, I merely yearn to speak with someone alive. Yet, I lie deceitfully, like the treacherous serpent I am. “I’ve been suffering from depression lately. Jack ended our relationship and vanished without contact.” Her gaze met mine with that soul-consuming pity I despise. “Oh my God, Claire, why didn’t you tell me? That prick! What’s his problem? He wasn’t even that hot!” she exclaims boldly, rolling her eyes. My eye twitches, and my fists tighten at my sides in an obscene rage. How dare she speak of my extraordinary boyfriend like that? Her audacity is repulsive. “Yeah… not that hot,” I utter insincerely. I would kill for that man. I would dedicate my entire existence to sculpting a statue of him, just to have his image to contemplate for eternity.

“Yeah, he just up and left,” I say flatly. She frowns and tilts her head before proposing, “You know what? We should go out tonight, just you and me. I have a dress that would look absolutely stunning on you.” I freeze, the thought of leaving Jack fills me with dread, and I want to throw up at the idea of any other man touching me all over in some sordid nightclub. My lips thin into a line, and my brows knit in irritation. “No, I don’t want to go.” She furrows her brows and grasps my wrists. “No, Claire, come on, you need to get out of this place.” Her warm flesh against my icy skin feels divine. Her touch is just so comforting. Nicole always knows how to coax me out of my shell. As much as I desire to study the Bible and clandestinely touch Jack in ways no one should touch a corpse, a part of me yearns to go out. But even though I long to leave… I know I cannot. I must do this for Jack. I teat my eyes away from her before yanking my hands back. My voice comes out more defensively than I would like. “I’m not going; I’m busy,” I snap harshly. She withdraws her hands as if burned, eyes filled with sorrow like a kicked puppy. “Oh, fuck to! you’re not busy here,” she retorts in a pathetic whine. I scoff, stepping back from the door. “You don’t even know what I do in my free time, Nicole,” I sneer with evident annoyance. Her lip quivers, possibly with anger. “Fuck you then, you can rot in this house—I couldn’t care less.” Without warning, I slam the door in her face, my chest heaving with fury. “Fuck you, then,” I mutter to no one but myself. Tears prick my eyes as I kick the door harshly before turning on my heel, ascending the stairs as I wipe my streaming tears.

I collapse onto the bed. I curl up beside Jack, hugging my knees and resting my head on his chest as my breath catches with sadness. “Do you think I was being mean?” My whisper is feeble, my words a pitiful attempt to boost my ego. Jack obviously remains silent, offering no meaningful response. I sniffle, wrapping my arms around his torso. “I hate you for leaving me here,” I bitterly exclaim, my chest constricted by my cries, bones trembling with sobs. After what feels like hours of crying, I sit up, my hair disheveled, eyes red and swollen. “I hope you realize I didn’t mean what I said earlier.” My voice is shameful,full of guilt as I avoid looking at Jack’s body that I’ve kept for my own selfish consumption.

I clutch the Bible tightly and plunge deeper into my studies. Days blur together as I read and decipher without pause. I’m more than halfway through, and I have no intention of stopping. The following week, I studied relentlessly, sacrificing sleep and abusing my coffee machine to keep going. My eyes are bloodshot, dark circles drape beneath them like somber moons. My hands ache fiercely, begging me to cease, while Jack’s decay worsens more than I can bear. I pace wildly around my room, running trembling fingers through my hair, angrily smoothing it against my face. “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” I whisper over and over, until my tongue goes numb. I continue pacing, feet aching, until exhaustion overtakes me.

I grab my note book and in a rush of emotion hurl myself onto the floor,my knees slamming against the plush carpet. My heart is pounding like a drum in my chest as I feel a desperate need to find the words of comfort buried within the pages of my notebook. As my fingers fumbled through the slightly worn pages, flipping them impatiently, I felt a powerful surge of excitement and hope tugging at me, guiding me closer to the verse I yearned for. At last, my eyes caught the familiar script “The dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.” With a breathless pause, I allowed those words to wash over me,filling me with the hope i begged for, But I wasn’t finished yet; I continued flipping through the pages, my heart racing with anticipation until I found another passage that fueled the fire even more.“Whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” In that moment, I turned to Jack and without hesitating, I sprang to my feet and dashed over to him, urgency fueling my every move.

My hands trembled as I clasped his shoulders aggressively tuning him to face me,my grip perhaps too strong, but I needed him to feel the weight of my words. “I can bring you back,” I declared softly in a whisper. “You can have eternal life!” The intensity of my plea spilled out of me as I thrust the notebook right in his face, my emotions spiraling out of control. “DAMN YOU, LOOK AT IT!” In a whirlwind of regret for my actions, I suddenly yanked the notebook away, clutching it tightly to my chest as tears surged forth, cascading down my cheeks like an unstoppable river. My hair whipped around my face, wild and untamed, as I struck the side of my head in anguish—each blow a desperate attempt to punish the rotten attitude that I had just let rear its ugly head within me.

The heaviness in my breath hitched sharply, leaving me momentarily gasping for air as I bring myself closer to Jack, my heart aching for him and for the words I so desperately wanted him to hear.

Gazing into his unmoving eyes,those captivating pools that captured so much of my heart I cradle his face tenderly in my hands my touch gentle against his skin. “I’m so sorry, my love,” I whispered, my voice breaking like fragile glass. “I didn’t mean to yell.” A broken grin crept across my face, a fragile glimmer of hope shining through the ache as I stroked his cheek, my heart fluttering with hope as walk To my desk,throwing the papers into the air out of frustration.

“PLEASE, TELL ME HOW TO BRING HIM BACK! I’M BEGGING YOU JUST GIVE ME A SIGN!” My voice erupts into the stillness of the room as I collapse to my knees once again, my heart heavy with anguish, crying out to God in desperation. “Please…pleasepleasepleaseplease, PLEASE SHOW ME!” I pound my fists against the cold, unforgiving floor, feeling the ache in my palms, the sting of the impact turning my skin red and raw. Tears stream down my tears fall like rain fall in a flood.

Gathering my shaky resolve, I push myself back to my feet, my legs barely supporting my weight as I stagger toward Jack again. my heart racing with a mix of desperation and insanity. As I grasp onto his shirt, I yank him to face me, urgency lacing my voice. “Tell me how to bring you back. Just ask God for guidance and then tell me, okay?” I fix my gaze on him, my bloodshot eyes reflecting every ounce of yearning within my soul.My hands clutch at him with such intensity that my knuckles turn an ashen white, revealing the depth of my desperation.

I shake him roughly, causing his arm to slip crashing against the bedside drawer, the clatter reverberating around the room.I let go of him, the weight of my grip suddenly released, and in a frenzy, I pull open the drawer, my breath hitching in anticipation. My eyes widen as I peer inside, uncovering a cache of matches and a gun. Time seems to freeze as my heart pounds in my chest.

I freeze and an unsolicited laughter bursts from my lips, a sound that feels almost foreign mixed within all of my sorrow. “OF COURSE!” I exclaim, raising my arms to the heavens as though the universe has finally decided to reveal its hidden truths to me. Tears glisten in my eyes as a wide smile stretches across my face.

“I may not be able to bring you back from death, my sweet angel, but I can certainly find a way to join you in it.” My voice softens to a whisper, the weight of my emotions lying bare as I lean down, placing a tender kiss on Jack’s cheek, sealing my promise with an intimate warmth that conjures the sweet memories of our time together.

In this desperate moment, I was absolutely certain the love we shared would break through even the darkest of separations. I slip on Jack’s sweatshirt and I gather all of my papers scattered around the room,I place them all neatly at my desk and I leave the room.

Approximately an hour later, I burst through the door with a forceful shove, clutching a half empty canister of gasoline its contents sloshing ominously within itself. My chest is heaving with exertion , breaths coming in rapid, shallow spurts like a rabid dog.

I spin around in the room as I push my thumb covering half the nozzle causing it to spray the gasoline across the walls and ground, a chaotic trail of destruction identical to the havoc I had wreaked in every other room of the house. “We will be together soon, my dear, don’t worry,” I whisper softly, my voice laced with unsettling excitement.

My hands tremble slightly as I reach into the drawer, snatching up the pack of matches with a sense of urgency and purpose. I race down the stairs, adrenaline coursing through my veins as I reach the kitchen. With a flick of my wrist, I strike a match, its bright flame a beacon in the all consuming darkness. I watch as it ignites, flickering vibrantly before I hurl it to the ground, where it meets the gasoline with an enthusiastic kiss. The floor erupts in flames almost instantaneously. fiery inferno spiraling upwards licking at the back of my legs as I dash back up the stairs with an exhilarated grin plastered across my face, heart pounding with reckless anticipation.

I rush to the bed, eyes darting in a fervor as I snatch the gun from the nightstand drawer,the weight of its comforting presence in my hand. Crawling onto the bed, I nestle against Jack.I place the gun neatly in my lap, a juxtaposition of violence and attempted elegance.

I can see the fire creeping closer, its insatiable hunger consuming everything in its path. Smoke begins to fill the room, coiling around me like a suffocating serpent as I watch the flames dance and roar like a raging river.Excitement courses though my body as I clutch Jack’s arm tightly against my chest, holding on so tight it threatens to break.

The room is slowly but surely being swallowed by the blaze, the heat intensifying as the flames climb resolutely up the walls, wrapping us in a ring of heat. the smoke thickens to an unbearably thick smog,I cough violently each rasping breath a reminder of the impending doom as the fire reaches the foot of the bed, igniting everything in its path.

Tink tink tink tink tink… i cock the gun back, the sound sharp and quiet against the deafening flames around me. My hands shake with excitement as I hold the very gun that took Jack’s life up to my head just like he had just weeks ago. “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.” I whisper in Jack’s ear as I unwrap his bandages and kiss him one last time as I pull the Tigger. Click,the gun won’t go off,click click clickcickclick. I slam the gun against my hand hard. “Fuck!” I scream angrily and throw the gun as hard as I can at the wall. The air around us grows increasingly suffocating, thick with a dense, toxic smoke that wraps around me like a hug.

The flames dance hungrily, ravenous tendrils of fire licking at the wooden floor and searing their way up the walls, consuming everything in its path. My heart races as I lean into Jack, kissing him with a frenzied desperation, our lips crashing together one final time, as if this electrifying connection could somehow shield me from the fiery death I made myself. My fingers weave into his soft, brown hair, which feels so familiar, so beloved, while my eyes flutter shut, hoping to etch this moment into my memory forever.

In front of us the flames roar angrily, their bright orange hue creeping towards the bedframe, devouring its sturdy structure like an insatiable beast. First, they devour the blankets, turning our once beloved place into a nightmarish inferno.

The flames creep closer to Jack’s still form, laying lifelessly beside me. Panic surges through me. “No, no, no, NO! WAIT, PLEASE!” I scream, my voice cracking as I gather all my strength to try and desperately pull him away from the greedy flames that threaten to obliterate him and on top of me But any hope of escape is futile; the flames wrap around him, hungrily engulfing his body as they start to reach for me as well.

I let out a blood-curdling scream as the scorching heat envelops me, tears streaming down my cheeks as the fire begins its gruesome work on my own flesh. I can feel the searing pain reverberating through every nerve as the flames mercilessly cook my skin, a horrifying parallel to what has already happened to Jack, whose body is now reduced to charred bones. Overcome by grief, I press my lips against his skeletal mouth, my heart breaking even more as I cradle him against me, feeling every fragile bone creak beneath the weight of my weakening arms.

Exhaustion begins to seep into my bones,beckoning me to close my eyes. My muscles are turning to jelly, my vision becoming obscured by my tears and the black smoke. I can taste the metallic sweet tang of blood on my tongue. I smile softly as I let my eyes flutter closed, my mind drifting back to all the moments we shared,every laugh, every whispered promise, the powerful love that burned bright between us. I feel the flames wrap around me fully and all I can think about is how I will see jack soon. My voice breaks as my fried vocal chords choke out my final words “my love for you will always and forever stand undying…even in death.” As my words leave my lips I let my eyes close and feel my arms fall to my sides reluctantly letting go of Jack’s brittle bones. My heart aches for the last time as I surrender to the inevitable death I made for myself.

Credit: Sophia