Ashes in the Wind

01

"... ah…"

The sorrowful pale figure stood on the balcony. Bathed in moonlight, it was as if they were to be whisked away by the wind. Gorgeous, was all that came to his mind. A set of loose papers, filled with scrawls of sweet nothings and their delicate love held gently in their gentle hands.

"If I'd known all of our nights was a fleeting fancy in your eyes," Their voice in a shuddering whisper, "I wish… I wish I'd never met you!"

Anger blazed in the sorrowful depths of their eyes. His chest hurt seeing the pained creases on their beautiful face yet his face was as cool as ice. No!

"Come in here before you fall sick again, Eli." His tone is admonishing and commanding as if talking to a small, unruly child. Come back to me… Their lips crumpled into a melancholic smile.

"No."

His left eye twitched at the rejection.

"Never, Claude," Flames lick at the letters in their hands and they step back. Claude's eyes widen as the yellow flames eat up their inked confessions and he stepped forward.

"Don't be so dramatic..!" He gritted out each word like a curse as he stepped forward. They let out a weak chuckle.

"I've always had a penchant for drama."

His eyes followed as they threw the burning papers up. Then, he saw Eli, too scatter into the wind like the ashes of their love. Their nape and legs have gone. What? Claude ran towards the open balcony, leaping over the grand mahogany table. Eli's curly hair and soft waist break away into the night. No, no!

He ran and as if time slowed, their disembodied hands grazed his cheeks before they, too, scattered. Only his pretty lips remained in a melancholic curl as if to mock him. Eli… They whispered something softly but he could not hear anything over his chaotic thoughts and the harsh pounding in his ears.

Claude crashed into the balcony banisters, feeling the ghost of a kiss on his lips.

In the cold night, he cried.