Four Times Nelyo by Robinka

Burning Bridges

Originally written in April 2009.

The wind carries the skull-squeezing hiss of boiling water and the fluttering laments of the sails, once white, that are rapidly losing their battle. The waves and flames, like greedy hands, crash proud masts and pull them beneath the roaring hell, into the calm abyss.

Where I stand, at the point of no return, frozen by the heat blazing straight in my face, I can feel their fierceness, yet no word of regret slips out between my clenched teeth. The smoke stings my eyes; I swallow the tears that can soothe neither my scorched throat nor my spirit on fire.