Prompts

('19) PROMPT: ASH

Flames lick at the night sky, burning like the stars sprinkled throughout it. Another log is tossed into it, feeding the flames as it sparks and crackles in approval. With a content smile Trevor leans back, arms behind him as support. Letting his eyes close he take in the sweet sounds and comforting smell. Bright wildfires, his safest place. You could call him an addict the way he craves the warm heat basking him and the flickering red and oranges. He finds himself always itching to cause one when it's been too long. But lately too long as grown from a few weeks to a few days. An innocent enjoyment has turned into an unhealthy obsession. Ashes never seem to leave his clothes, that campfire smell is stuck to him like a never fading perfume. Simple backyard fires have become bigger. The constant buying of lighters and matches weighs a hole in his money. As any addict he doesn't want to stop, even if he did, he couldn't. He's tried picking up smoking to ease the need to light up anything he sees. It isn't the same, he needs something bigger. It's always about how big a fire he can get. When the cigarettes aren't enough he slowly starts to slip up. From papers to fields, he can never get enough. A trail of ashes follows everywhere he goes, he dreads the day someone will catch up. When a field fire gone wrong leads to something more his trail seems to grow much too obvious. He dreams of the scene every night. The way the fire spreads, the noises clouding his ears. Never will he forget that night a house caught fire. All the ashes in its place still haunt his skin. The high of feeling no remorse still pumping through his veins. One time just wasn't enough.