Burning Love

Ivy bounced out of the master bedroom. “Aiden, you‘ re up! Why don’t you sleep a little longer?”

On the other end of the line, my mom hesitated. “Aiden, who’s that? Isn‘ t Elena with you?”

Aiden shoved Ivy aside, panic in his voice: “Mom, Elena‘ s fine. I’ll have her call you to let

to let you

know.” He quickly hung up, not daring to say more.

Ignoring Ivy‘ s sobs from where she sat on the floor, Aiden grabbed the car keys and bolted out the door. He found the address I had sent him and stepped on the gas, driving away. He even tried calling me, but all he got was a busy signal.

On the first day of our cold war, I found a place to stay nearby. I sent the address to Aiden, but my mind was a mess. I couldn’t bear to let go of our five years together, but I didn’t want a love that was already flawed either.

Aiden felt the same. He didn’t want to break up, but he wouldn’t apologize or show any real remorse. He just threw out the occasional cheap concern, asking if I had

calmed down yet.

When I finally lost hope and planned to confront him and break things off, a fire broke out. I just wanted to survive, that’s all.

We began when I saved him from the brink of death on a street corner. Coincidentally, he saved my life in return. But in the end, he owed me two lives.

So many moments could have changed the outcome. If only Aiden had followed protocol and allocated the firefighters and equipment properly; if only he hadn’t dismissed my plea for help as jealousy; if only he had left as soon as he got the call from the command center…

The events are linked together like a chain. He’s the one who created this dead end for me. Let him live with the world‘ s condemnation and guilt for the rest of his life!

Aiden didn’t know how many times he called me. When someone finally answered, he called my name in relief, but a solemn voice replied, “Are you Elena Hart‘ s family? We’re with the Municipal Public Security Bureau. We just confirmed with the Fire Department that Elena Hart was one of the victims in the high–rise fire yesterday.”

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“Please accept our deepest condolences.”

Aiden‘ s face went white as a sheet. His hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly they shook, his lips trembling. “Impossible! My fiancée is only 25. How could she be dead? I’m a firefighter!”

At that moment, the navigation system chimed in, “You have arrived at your destination.” Aiden looked up in shock. He was parked outside the high–rise he had

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been fighting the fire at yesterday. He could see the shattered windows on the 18th floor, and the blackened exterior walls.

After checking my apartment number, he collapsed to the ground, completely undone. It was the first time Aiden had ever lost control like this.

After a while, he stumbled back into the building, staring numbly at the bloodstains in the entrance..He finally noticed the pink floral skirt I had worn, and the broken half of the bracelet crushed underfoot.

Aiden lay on the bed where I had slept, closing his eyes in silence. When he opened them again, he had become the decisive and efficient Captain Blake.

my mother

He calmly went to the police station to claim my body. He calmly informed of my death. He calmly gathered all the relatives and arranged the funeral. Whether facing my mother’s wild accusations and grief, Ivy‘ s attempts to comfort him, or even his would–be in–laws setting up blind dates at my funeral, Aiden showed no emotion.

Some people called him cold and heartless, saying he didn’t shed a single tear over his fiancée’s death. Others claimed he was deeply in love but broken–hearted, erushed by sorrow.

But I knew the truth. He was losing his mind.

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