Recovery And Magic

6

The words rang in the back in my ears. Clearing the smoke that had built up inside of my chest, smothering down the flames. Letting my lungs breathe in the first batch of fresh air in years.

"Lose their magic?" I repeated.

Ian's eyes sunk. The cheery smile wiped off as he stared at the two teacups. Andy darted his eyes to the ground.

"Yeah," Ian sighed, "I forget, did you want honey in your tea?"

I stood straight up from the lawn chair. The cool air that brushed against my cheek started to burn. My cheeks tingling from a smile curling up. It was an actual smile. I had a real smile. A hopeful smile.

"No, I don't want-I can quit magic? I can get rid of it?"

Ian nodded, taking a sip of the tea. "Yep. But-"

"Well, let's do that!" I cut off sharply. Energy started to build in my chest. Jumping through my arms and legs. Surging them with lightning while I started bobbing up and down. "Obviously this magic stuff isn't suited for me. And I don't want to be able to make fire appear every time I get nervous. So why don't I go over there and sign up?"

Ian's eyes flickered over to my face and winced back to his tea. He looked like he was in pain. Why would he be in pain? I'm the one suffering over here. And I found a cure that isn't death.

"Listen," Ian replied, his eyes forced back onto me. "That's not really for people who are starting out."

Bullshit.

"What do you mean?" I asked, my smile still on.

Ian started to squirm. He glanced over to Andy, who just nodded back. Buds of flowers sprouting around his feet. Andy looked up at me, biting down a frown that formed at the corner of his mouth. Go ahead and answer the question. Answer to the girl who has been burned her entire life by something she never wanted.

"It's for people who don't want their magic anymore," Andy said, softly. "And-"

Bullshit.

"I don't want this!" I snapped, the smile breaking off. The inside of my chest smoldering. The thunder bouncing in my limbs began to boil my bones. "I never wanted this! Do you think I want to make fire appear out of nowhere and start burning everything?"

"That's not what I meant!" Ian cut in. More pain filling his face. Andy went back to looking towards the ground. "Look what-"

"Bullshit!" I shouted, the smoke billowing out of my throat. "You're supposed to help me, right?! So help me get rid of this fucking thing that's been ruining my life!"

With that last word, fire shot out. Whirling up from the chair behind me, engulfing the teacups, and devouring the trees. Little spools of flames lurched out of the ground. Rolling around gleefully as they spread their destruction. Gobbling everything with its bright orange tongues. Their red fangs snapping the air any surface that hasn't been caught in its attack.

My lungs felt like they were set on fire. Eating the last of my air that resided in the back of my throat. I was gasping now. I kept my head down, avoiding the massacre that was happening in front of me. The heat of fire scorching my back and the ends of my hair. Taunting me with each passing flicker.

I dropped my head to the ground shutting them tight. Avoiding any passing glances of flames or embers. Smokey visions of engulfed houses and people shouting at me behind my eyelids.

Oh god! Stop! Stop stop stop! Please, don't burn this-Stop!

I could hear mutter a series of words and Ian clapped his hands. The rush of heat was gone. I flickered my eyes open to see no glares of open flames on the ground. The smell of fresh burn objects hovering the air. The fire was gone, but I could still feel it. It's ghostly hands clutching my throat. Scratching my back. Squeezing my lungs. Burrowing deeper inside of me, ready to stay kindled for the next burst.