I Burn Everything

Chapter 4: Dream Connection

You open your eyes and find yourself back inside your familiar dreamscape already at the window.  The cracks around the plaster grew around you as you leaned into the wall as the smell of disinfectant wafted toward you.  You couldn't help but feel something was missing.  Or maybe it was two somethings.  A sudden urge to light yourself on fire overcame you,   and you held a lit match against your hair, watching as your hair was engulfed.  Your reflection in the window showed the fire dancing in your eyes, and you smiled.

The sound of metal hitting metal fell upon your ears, and you turned to see the boy who shared your dreams standing there.  His back was turned towards you, so you flick your slipper at him, hoping it gets his attention.  It hits him square on the back of his head, and he turns around to face you.  You let out a surprised gasp.

His face!  It was there!

His face was where it should be, and you finally acknowledged that he was a real person.  He was real, and he was standing bfore you.  He was here with you!  And everything suddenly fit into place!  The indentions on his face were perfectly in line with his features but so much better.  You were finally glad to see him.  You were finally glad to see him whole.

"It's been a long time," he says to you as he sits down next to yo with his back facing the other wll.  "But I'm here now."

"Don't leave me," you say to him desperately, pleading with your eyes.  "It's been so lonely.  Nobody else understands me.  Not like yo do."

"I can imagine," he says to you.  He flicks open the cap to his metal lighter and ignites a flame.  both of you watch in awe.  It flickers out, and he looks up at you.  "I've felt the same way."

* * *

"What do you mean?" she asks you, but you have a hard time answering.  Now that you know her face, you can't take your eyes off her.  She's stuunningly beautiful.

"People pretend to understand me, but they really don't," you explain to her.  "My fther and my ex-girlfriend are like that, and so are the people here too."  You let out a sign and look back out the window.  There was a bonfire raging down below, and something in your heart stirred.  Was it excitement, or was it desire?  You yearned to be down there with those people, but mainly the fire.  You leaned your body against the window trying to get close but failing.

"Why did you forget me?" she asks you running a hand through the flames that was her hair.  You watchhed as her charred flesh stitched itself together, healing her.  No matter how many times you see it, it never ceases to amaze you.

"It wasn't just me whose forgotten.  You've forgotten me too.  I don't have an answer, and I'm sure you don't," you say.  You take a deep breath in to smell the smoke all around the two of you.  The room y'all were in was filled with smoke tht came from her hair, and it made everything hazy.  The only part of he room naffected was the crevice by the window in which you two sat.

"Why have we forgotten each other?  Why are we like this?" she asks grabbig you shoulder.  You look into her eyes and understand that she believes you to have all the answers.  But you don't.

"I don't know everyting and neither do you.  Only time can give us the answers we seek," you say.  She turns her head towards the window and lets out a sigh.  You watch as she plls out another match and strikes it, holding it up to the window.

"What I wouldn't give to be down there with those people at the bonfire," she says with a smile.  "It would be heaven on earth for me."  You agree with her sentiments but don't say so.  Yu pull her close to you and let her head rest on your shoulder.

"One day, we'll be able to do whatever we want.  One day, we'll be able to join those people down there," you whisper in her ear.  "One day, we'll be free."

* * *