#damm

When I was 5, I saw the kid who would grow up to be the love of my life.

His arms wrapped around the shoulders of my brother. His face pushed into his long black hair. His lips quietly mumbling something I never got to hear into his right ear. I could not see where one ended and the other began.

I wanted attention, ached for it, like only a 5 year old who isn't afraid of anything would. I stomped away, leaving them behind, determined to never look back.

Hours later, they would both be forever changed. My love suddenly hot, burning up, an invisible fever spiking through his blood. My brother cold, whole body curled around itself, shivering slightly.

Why was I made to stand beside my shaking brother? It felt to me as if this is what an animal looks like when it dies, seeking comfort in its own body. My flames were careless, toying on his skin, the edge of his dress, heating him up as I was told. My love couldn't tear his eyes away. From my brother? From my fire? From whom? I never asked. My jealousy spiked at my brother possibly getting even more attention, attention that I could have had, attention that I came here to get.

My love did not approach the flames. He almost touched them, once, twice, trying to grasp Kai's hand when it reached out, but then startling himself away as if repulsed by something.