When She Gets Burned

Darkness Part 3

Alani trudged her way back to her humble flat, shoulders burdened with the weight of thoughts and memories she wanted to bury. The image of Ezra lingered in her mind like a ghost, haunting her steps. She couldn't shake the vivid picture of his distraught face, worn with the burdens of consequence. His eyes, once fiery with dominance, were now dulled with the realisation that his world was crumbling. Despite the hatred festering within her, a strange empathy tugged at Alani's heart. She despised him for the pain he had caused, wanted to erase every memory of their entangled lives. Yet, a twisted tenderness remained – a flicker of understanding for the man who had suddenly found himself abandoned.

As she ambled through the city streets, the weight of conflicting emotions pressed upon her. She knew she shouldn't care that she should revel in the justice served, but a part of her couldn't ignore the echo of the love that once had existed. It was a love that had carved itself into her heart, refusing to fade, a stubborn stain she couldn't bleach away.

Alani's footsteps carried her towards the remnants of their shared past – their old apartment building. The familiarity of the path stirred up memories she had tried so hard to suppress. The night air whispered echoes of their shared laughter and the pain that once festered within those walls. Her journey was a reluctant pilgrimage, an acknowledgement of the inextricable connection she held with the man she once loved and now loathed. As she neared the building, the shadows of past danced around her, and she couldn't help but wonder if Ezra's hollowed gaze mirrored the void within her soul.

She stood before the looming building, each brick and window whispering to her of the past. She scanned the facade, hoping to pinpoint the exact spot where Ezra may be lying, wallowing in the remnants of their shattered life. Yet, the futility of the endeavour struck her like a bitter gust of wind. As the harsh reality settled in, she turned away from the building and retreated to the solitude of her own space. The familiar weight of disappointment clung to her shoulders as she entered her apartment. The walls echoed with silent memories, mocking her for attempting to resurrect what was long gone.

Collapsing onto her bed, Alani felt the strength of Ezra's memory pressing onto her like a bed of thorns. He was the flowers in her stomach, an unsettling bloom that cut into her nightly, their petals unfurling through the fractures of her ribs. It was a pain she had grown accustomed to, an ache that lingered long after their paths diverged. As she succumbed to the exhaustion of her emotional turmoil, sleep enveloped her with a merciful swiftness. The night held its breath, carrying Alani into a realm where dreams and memories intertwined, leaving her to navigate her subconscious.

Alani awoke to the heavy stillness of the afternoon, the sleep clinging to her like a reluctant lover. Her plans for the day were empty as the void within her, providing the perfect canvas for her tangled emotions to unravel. In her dimly lit kitchen, her hand moved almost instinctively towards the coffee maker. Though, as if drawn by an unseen force, it veered off course, reaching instead for the wine bottle that beckoned her form the depths of her fridge. Without hesitation, she grabbed the bottle, a silent companion for the solitude that clung to her like a second skin.

Returning to her room, bottle in hand, she finally acknowledged her neglected phone. A series of missed calls and messages blinked on the screen, a chorus of concern from Odessa, Owen and even her mum. However, it was Odessa's message that demanded her immediate attention - "Check the fucking news, girl."

Alani navigated the news app, the screen illuminating with an unsettling revelation. Ezra, a ghost from her past, had been found lifeless in his apartment this morning, when he didn't show up to the police station. The air in the room thickened as she absorbed the weight of the words – he had taken his own life. A mixture of emotions, too complex for words, swirled within her, and she took a swig from the bottle, its bitter contents offering a temporary respite from the reality that had unfolded before her.