I didn’t mean to look. I didn’t mean to see. I didn’t want to. I wish I hadn’t because now it burns.
It burns my fingers, clenching them around my papers. It burns my shoulders, tensing them. It burns my jaw, hardening it. It burns my feet, forcing them to keep moving despite my desire to change direction, to head towards them, to… what?
My heart drops into my stomach. And burns.
Tears sneak out the corners of my eyes, burning my cheeks. I swallow hard.
Fire burns my arm, relaxing the muscles. My umbrella plummets to the sidewalk. Raindrops mingle with my tears.
Still, I burn.
Inspired by artist Shilin’s ‘Umbrella‘ from Deviantart.
Melanie Noell Bernard 