There were flames everywhere, dancing. the smoke caused due to it choking him. The house was burning just like his soul. His body felt as if it had been scalded. Fire is famish. Red flames ready to devour anything and everything that comes within its proximity.

His body felt numb. As if he was paralyzed, maybe he was. Who knows? Sweat prickling down his forehead. He was shrouded with ash. It was strangling him. Then his eyes beheld the sight everyone dreads, death, itself.

Suddenly his eyes flashed open. Gone was death. But something else announced its presence. Dazed, he looked around. Strange. Soon he realized- being surrounded by familiar ambience- it was his room. the ghost of her still luring him.

The night before, he met her. "I still do cherish the moments we spent together." She shared over tea. Her face didn't quite change from the last time he saw her. For a moment he wondered if she would still fit with him. But dismissed it on the second thought. "But don't get your hopes high. I would still loathe anything that requires me to be in your vicinity." She continued with absolute spite. I f there was any sign of dismay in her voice, it was gone now.

"You despise me?" Knowing the obvious he still asked. "Don't be so bemused. Wasn't it obvious? How much you exasperate me?" She arched her brow coyly. "I never said i was under the impression that we could be together." Even he himself knew it was a mere pretense.

"You didn't, most certainly. But it was heavily implied." She replied with an air of confidence. "Moreover, don't pretend this feeling isn't mutual." She continued. "Of course, it is." his expression stoic. how long has it been since they turned their back on each other? Talking in retrospect, it wasn't unusual for him to lose friends. friends who turned their back on him when he needed them the most.

Again, the fault was not their to assume. maybe he was the one who did not deserve them. No matter how hard he tried, it would only be a matter of time before his attempts turned out to be futile.

"Listen, this would be the last time i am telling you this. We both are in a position to exercise the same magnitude of power. Therefor, i am not beholden to you just in the way you are not to me. I am mindful of my boundaries and i do not intend to go beyond that trajectory. In this matter, perhaps, you should consider the same." With her heels clattering against the floor she left.