Burning Love to Ashes

There was a picture attached to the post, showing two hands tightly clasped together. The scars on the back of the larger hand stood out sharply.

The next night, Aiden came home looking exhausted. I didn’t get angry. I calmly talked about our five-year relationship and his connection with Ivy that seemed to go beyond work. He stayed silent, his fingers constantly moving as he occasionally looked down to reply to messages on his work phone.

I couldn’t help but notice the scar on the back of his hand. Then I accidentally caught sight of the name in the message box— “Ivy baby.” The long-buried frustration and resentment inside me were about to boil over. But before I could say anything, Aiden cut me off with, “Can you lower your voice? You’re acting like a fishwife.” He told me to calm down. So, I did—I calmly packed my suitcase and left our newly renovated home.

The operator on the phone had no idea about the turmoil in my heart but still tried to comfort me. “Please stay hopeful and hang in there! The firefighters will get you out safely!” I looked at the time; five minutes had already passed. Not only had I missed the golden window to escape, but the half-hour they promised now felt distant and uncertain.

After hanging up, I didn’t care about anything else. I ran into the fire with a wet blanket, twisted the doorknob, and kicked at the door desperately. The smell of burnt skin filled the air. I looked down and saw my right hand, bloodied, with peeled skin stuck to the doorknob. The hem of my clothes had caught fire. My hope of escaping through the front door was shattered.

The sunset filtered through the window, mingling with the flickering flames. I struggled to reach the balcony and looked out from the 18th floor. If I jumped, I’d surely be crushed. So, faced with the choice of burning or falling to death, I chose the former.

Shortly afterward, Aiden, who was across the city, received a text notification. Maybe my will to live was too strong, because my soul seemed to follow that message to Aiden’s side. It was busy around him. Ivy’s face was full of fear, and her tears soaked Aiden’s collar. He gently patted her head and comforted her, “Promise me, don’t do anything rash. No matter how tough it gets, I’m here for you.”

Aiden’s colleagues exchanged uneasy glances, clearly frustrated but too afraid to speak up. The youngest firefighter, Leonardo, was nudged forward and timidly reminded him, “Aiden, the command center called half an hour ago about a major fire in one of the high-rises downtown. Shouldn’t we head out?” I recognized him as the rookie who had just started.

Aiden looked a bit annoyed. After straightening Ivy’s hair and adjusting his collar, he finally replied, “Didn’t I say to send a few of the veterans? There’s no need to wait for me.”

Leonardo hesitated, then said, “You might’ve forgotten, but you called the whole team to save Ivy, and you even brought the only aerial ladder truck in the city.”

Aiden, feeling challenged, snapped, “Are you questioning my decision? Both situations involve lives, and I have to follow the protocol! If you’re so eager to prove yourself, then go ahead, I’m not stopping you!”

Leonardo, blunt as ever, responded sarcastically, “This isn’t about proving anything. You’re the captain, leading us all to play hero for a damsel in distress. If we don’t get her to smile, how can we leave?”

“Enough!” Aiden’s face went pale, and he shouted angrily. Just as the two were about to clash, Ivy tugged on Aiden’s sleeve and spoke softly, “Please don’t be angry. We’re all just trying to save lives. I’ll go with you.”

She then turned to the firefighters, bowed deeply, and tearfully said, “I’m so sorry for using up your resources. Thank you for giving me a second chance at life.”

A female firefighter couldn’t help but roll her eyes and muttered under her breath, “Yeah, you said the same thing last time!”

The fire burned for another half hour. Aiden and his team finally rushed out. But by then, my dear fiancé, the unforgiving flames had already claimed my life. I won’t be a burden to you anymore.