Faded Hearts, Broken Bonds

Four paint cans lay spilled, colors pooling across the floor.

Valerie sat amid the mess. Her eyes teared up, her voice shaking. "I'm so sorry. I tripped."

"The four cans were side by side," I pointed out. "And you knocked over all of them?"

My blunt question caught her off guard, and her tears flowed harder. "I…"

Nathan stepped in front of her, shielding her like a knight. "Enough! She said it was an accident. Why drag it out? Get it cleaned up and mix new paints."

I clenched my fists, sneering. "My canvas is ruined. Do you know the cost of destroying this piece?"

Unwilling to argue with me, he led Valerie to leave. "Don't be ridiculous. How much could your painting be worth?"

Annoyed by his nonchalance, I took a deep breath and shoved him back. "Get out!"

...

The exhibition paused. I tore off the ruined canvas, retreating to the studio to mix new paints.

Someone shouted outside, "Fire!"

Screams pierced the door. Thinking of my hundreds of paintings, I grabbed a wet towel, covered my face, and ran out.

The gallery was in chaos, black smoke swirling. Flames were devouring my work.

Through the crowd, I saw Nathan shielding Valerie. His eyes were red with panic, veins bulging on his neck. I'd never seen him so desperate.

Memories of my past life's fire hit me, and I laughed, tears burning my eyes. My cheeks started to sting with the heat.

In that life, a beam crushed my ribs. Valerie shed a few scared tears, and Nathan rushed to her, ignoring my pleas.

"Valerie is frightened," he had said. "Hold on. The firefighters are coming."

The flames engulfed me. A searing pain pierced every inch of my body, but it was nothing compared to the pain in my heart.

He never called 911. He only cared about her.

In this life, it was the same.

My laughter grew, shaking my smoke-choked lungs until I coughed up blood.

I staggered to my feet, my vision blurring, and began to dance amidst the flames. My skirt swirled as I surrendered my body and tears to the inferno.

The fire devoured everything, reducing my art, my dreams, and my heart to ash.

That night, a headline shook the city.

[Prodigy artist Gail Maddox perishes in gallery blaze, her body burned beyond recognition.]