"I take it you don't like fire."

The animals in the forest considered him a friend, from the groundhogs to the deer. They liked that he was different, unlike the humans who hunted them and killed their friends.

Those peculiars softened into some things to be admired when he was alone.

The hobbit lived alone, as most hobbits do.

There was love in Ben’s eyes. Aric had tried to hard to discourage it, to push Ben away, but he had only failed. Ben hadn’t given up on him.

All he could focus on was Ben’s scent, getting stronger and stronger. No no no no no.

The other vampire had left minutes ago, but the blood seeping out of Aric’s side wound had already formed a puddle of blood he laid in.

People come and go That’s just how it is It’s the truth, I know I’ll never forget you, Ms.

Memories are what hang in the air as a thoughtful silence falls.

There he is. Tubes run fluids into his wrist, air is given through the tubes in his nose. His face is stark white, pale and gleaming. And calm. Calmer than I've ever seen him.

Her

A wave of nostalgia hit me almost immediately. The weathered but charming rooms, the creaky but comfortable furniture, the vintage but rarely used kitchen; All reminders of the life I used to live.

As I’m walking towards her, I’m not focused on the little, tiny insecurities I worry about, I’m not focused on the people looking at me for longer than necessary. All I can focus on is her. She’s so BEAUTIFUL.

The mist began to thicken. It began to wrap around my neck. Choking me, suffocating me. I began to run. Faster! Faster!

I can still hear the sounds of fighting and yelling echoing through the walls..

I couldn’t help and avoid the tiny crack in my voice from the way she looked at me: there was pure, raw, soft kindness in her eyes. No one has looked at me like that for a long time.

“You accepted those insults today…” she began, choosing her words carefully. “You believed them.”

My heart shuttered at that name, the way her voice sounded so much like Ash’s. Guilt spread all the way to my toes. It was Ash’s face now, haunting me as it stared into my eyes, at my face.

A queen used to a life of discomfort.

That hole where my heart used to be grew.