short stories

Words Written in Fire

Fires lived more brightly around her. She first noticed it when she lit a match and held it until her thumb blistered and charred. Even then, she sensed that a match shouldn’t last that long, flickering blue and white as she inhaled the faint smoke. Her thumb healed overnight, too.

Fantasy. An orphan attracted to fire. Thanks to Rilina and my sister. Appeared in Shadows of Saturn Aug./Sept. 2005 (online). (The magazine is now defunct.)