The Fire

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 “I think I am dying.” 


Salisha said these words sitting in front of the dying fire, clutching the blue shawl her favourite aunt had given her as a departing gift. Her brother sat right in front of her, looking at her as if she grew a third eye. But with the statement she had just made, that was kind of valid.  


Still in shock, her brother stuttered out, “W-what do you m-mean? You look f-fine-" 


“Not literally dying, big bro, it’s just that I feel dead inside, you know. As if there is nothing left to enjoy anymore.”  


It was all true, she felt. Hours ago, the fire had been bigger, with the embers dancing and the fire casting an incandescent glow on all her relatives who had been here for a family reunion. The orange flames had eaten through most of the wood, and the warmth of it had seeped right into her bones and warmed her up. Now, however, looking at the dwindling fire only managed to make her feel dread, the embers no longer sparking as much as earlier, and the roaring fire now reduced to a bunch of flames. 


“Do you need some advice? Like the counselors at school give?” Her brother asked her awkwardly. 


“Nah,” Salisha replied, “Don’t think I could stand it if you gave me a speech. Besides, you stutter a lot, it is near impossible to understand you. And, you use big words.”  


Her brother rolled his eyes good-naturedly. “I do not,” he said. 


“See, nobody uses ‘do not’ anymore, big bro.” 


“Whatever.” 


They sat there in silence, Salisha fiddling with a twig and her brother staring at the trees in front of them. For a change, they could see the stars tonight. However, a large part of the sky was covered by clouds and the bare trees towered in the dark, their branches spreading out into the night and making the night feel hauntingly beautiful.  


“Have you tried giving time to yourself? That could work.” Her brother asked after a long silence. By now, the fire had extinguished, and the little warmth left in the night vanished. It wasn’t dark though, a few lamps were still switched on nearby. 


“Mhm, I’ll see,” she replied. 


“You will figure it out though, will you not?” 


“Of course, I will, you’ll help me. And stop speaking like that.” 


Her brother chuckled lightly before squeezing her hand thrice and standing up with her, leading her away from what was once a roaring fire.

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