Silena(revised)

three

I could still feel the lingering touch of Burek's fingers on my arm. I blushed. Zhen had told me once that Burek had feelings for me. But now I knew for sure. I wasn't that attractive or anything. How could anyone possibly like me?

Gramma was still sleeping. After changing into dry clothes, I decided to cook something. I was hungry. I started a bonfire in the backyard and placed a pot over it. I tossed in vegetables, fish and goat fat into the pot. Adding water, I sat down waiting for it to boil.

I stared into the flames beneath the pot, intensely. I suddenly felt scared. Reliving the memories of six years ago was something I couldn't bear to do. The mud hut rising up in flames.....the screaming....

***SILENA'S MEMORY***

"Aargh!" I screamed. "I don't want to bathe, Ma!"

"It'll be over in a minute, dear." Ma cooed.
I was so mad, I literally saw red. Suddenly, woosh! Ma let go of me as I fell to the ground in the backyard. I looked at my arms. They were in flames. I got a quick glimpse of Ma's frightened face,before my eyes travelling to the mud hut, rising up in flames.

"Aaaaargh!" I screamed, scared out of my wits. I wailed and cried.
        Ma screamed for Pa,"Alekh! Alekh!" She disappeared into the hut.

I wanted to help. But, I sat rooted to one spot, shrieking.
     Slowly, people gathered around the hut. They splashed water all over it to extinguish the flames.

Ma and Pa did come out of the hut, but in makeshift cots and they never spoke, nor did they breathe. And I became an orphan.

***
Gramma survived the fire as she had been at the market at that time. She was young and healthy then, going to the market every day.
            I could have saved my parents. I was fireproof. I could have gone in and brought them out. I killed my parents. Ma and Pa....I killed them both. I made myself an orphan. I hadn't even tried to conjure a flame ever since.
      The villagers hated me, calling me 'The Girl Who Orphaned Herself', 'The Killer Girl', and 'The Evil Enchantress'. They're right.I did orphan myself. I did kill. But, I don't think I'm evil. But, then who am I to know?

"Silena?" Zhen interrupted my thoughts. I looked to the side to see Zhen sitting beside me.

"Are you okay? You spaced out. Don't be too hard on yourself, Silena. You're crying so much,too." Zhen wiped out my tears from my cheeks.

I got up suddenly. I checked that the food was cooked, put out the fire and served the food in bowls to Zhen and myself.
"What about Moree?" Zhen asked.

"Let her wake up." I replied.

We ate our food in silence. This tension was unwelcome since we were childhood friends, but I was too depressed to try and ease things out.
     After eating, Zhen decided to leave and I went in to feed Gramma.

"Gramma.....wake up. I've brought food." I nudged Gramma's sleeping body.

"Uhhhhhhh....." She groaned.

"Eat this and then you can sleep. I won't wake you."

"My love," she held my hand suddenly." I have something to tell you before I die."

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Love,
Mirage