I have to force myself out of the tiny, yellowed bed I’d made my stay in, and I sigh as I sluggishly undress and redress. I skip the other steps, leaving the cramped child’s bedroom and making my way toward the nearby kitchen’s door. It was already approaching the end of the morning, but I could not afford to waste time eating when I had to find work. Before my hand reaches the door, however, I am stopped by a grumble from Astrid, who reminds me to “make sure to look out for Isabella, dear”. Despite her daily urges for me to seek out her daughter, who supposedly is in business and looking for hands, I have not once been able to find her. 

I gulped ragged breaths of hot soot-filled air as I tore through the winding crowded streets. The stitch in my side was like a knife between my ribs. Adrenaline raced through my veins. My heart was thundering against my ribcage, threatening to break free. I chanced a glance over my shoulder and regretted it at once. Hoards of people were engulfed in columns of flames. They screamed and writhed, desperately trying to put themselves out but to no avail. The fire consumed their bodies and they fell silent, reduced to ashes. The reptilian laughter of the dragon echoed overhead, clearly loving the carnage it was spreading. I managed to tear my gaze away from the gruesome sight. My legs pleaded for rest, but I forced them to move. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die.              

 I wanted to punch that stupid grin off of Loki’s stupid face. He reclined in a mauve armchair, observing my futile attempts to free myself from the invisible ropes bringing me to the floor. His cunning fiery eyes flashed with amusement. I should’ve known trusting him would be a bad idea. He had the same name as the Norse god of mischief, after all.

“What are you waiting for?” I growled. “Just finish me off already!” 

Loki clicked his tongue in disappointment and shook his head, the way a parent does when their child misbehaves.

“Temper temper dear,” he cooed. “You’re in no position to order me around, are you? Besides, it would be rather boring  if you died just like that,” he splayed his fingers in a mock explosion.  “I think I should be rewarded for my hard work, don’t you think, dear?”

“Hard work? Hard work?! We did everything for you!” I spat more colorful words at him. The man completely ignored me and said more to himself than to me: 

“Yes, I think the king would pay handsomely for your head.”

The first bite of that tiramisu was the best thing that Emma had ever tasted. The coffee was bitter and earthy, yet complemented the rich sweetness of the chocolate. The sponge was impossibly soft and felt like clouds in her mouth. The cream was light and fluffy, just like freshly fallen snow. The heavenly melody of flavors danced across her tongue, caressing every taste bud. Her stressful day at work seemed more like a memory now. As she took a second bite of cake, her manager’s snarling face melted out of her mind. Pure bliss replaced the rude snarky remarks of the customers. The only thing that mattered right now was Emma and her dessert. 

The sizzle of the candle burning out it’s last release of life reminded me to get to the consistency of my daily routine. My bones creak, hesitating down the already groaning stairs, uneager to do my daily tasks. Living a life such as mine, in solitude and no passions or needs except for the hope that I’ll die earlier than my expiration date. My life is not worth living. Looking at the other bodies, their scars, their clothing telling of their fruitful life of happiness, their lifeless eyes still holding the story of their lives that could have never been of any of the same beginnings or endings of mine. They’ve felt more than longing and I know I don’t deserve a better life, I’m just a person to cross paths with others to their mourning. A mere background character.

The movie dragged on, coming slowly to a close. As the end credits started to play, Chance grabbed the remote and turned the volume down so the light music was more background noise. He rubbed his eyes before settling back into the couch. As the end credits closed out, he turned off the TV, the darkness closing around his gaze while the imprint of the TV screen stayed in his vision. He tilted his head back, feeling Charlotte shift a little as he did so, but she stayed fast asleep. He smiled to himself, squeezed her shoulder, and drifted off to sleep.

Her heart rate sped up and the blood pumped faster despite feeling sluggish like honey. Her hands gathered sweat in the creases and her muscles quivered as they tensed. He stood before her, two heads taller at least and a smile that seemed to stretch from ear to ear. His eyes reflected nothing but darkness and she could see the faint reflection of herself as he grinned down at her. She didn’t dare speak, she knew her voice would break if any words were even able to force their way out. Plus there was nothing to say, everything from here on out seemed terribly inevitable.

I hated him more than words could express. Angry tears pricked the corners of my eyes, but I did my best to keep them at bay. He did not deserve to see my cry, he did not deserve to witness how much he affected me. I would be fine without him. He had brought this onto himself anyways. Cheating 🤬. He seemed like the devil right then and not the handsome man I would have followed to the ends of the earth just a short week ago.

She loved the Spring more than she could describe. She loved the feeling of the warm Sun kissing her skin and the new dew stained grass tickling her shins. Spring was the time when the weather was just warm enough to shed the coats of sweaters of winter. Yet it was not too hot to the point where the idea of stepping outside and away from air conditioning made you groan. Spring brought with it the encompassing aroma of flowers whose smells were as lively as their colors. She particularly enjoyed the small garden in her backyard, where every year she went to the local market to painstakingly sort through various seeds until she found those that would blossom into the flowers she desired that year.