Fire Flower

He grew flowers whenever she was around, the flowers blooming into colours that made her smile. She was flame itself, her passion for life burned and flared when he was with her. When he'd make her laugh, his skin dotted with daisies and sunflowers, the colours becoming more vibrant than ever before. When she'd make him smile and she saw how he'd look down at the floor grinning, she'd burn brighter than any supernova. They had nothing in the world, called freaks and insults that made them feel so lonely. But they had each other, and they told everything to one another, grew closer and closer. The best of friends. But they loved the way they were, he took pride in being able to create a child's favourite flower in his palm, she loved the way she could give a warm flame to a homeless family that wouldn't go out until they wished it to. But life isn't fair to freaks, and she wasn't in complete control of the fire, the warmth singing his petals. If they ever got too close then her fire would kill his flowers, hurting his sheltered skin, she once tried to wipe away his tears but instead burnt his cheek. She cried so hard she extinguished her flames for a while. He kept repeating that they'd find a way but she turned away, hating herself for hurting him.

After half a year of isolation, he found a way to help her. They'd both be accepted into the world and they'd be able to be near each other. Hug each other. She agreed immediately. He checked if she was sure four times, but eventually, the pair went to the garden of the woman who promised could help them. She came out the house in a white flowing dress, her dark skin practically glowing under the sun, and her hair left loose in an afro. She brought them to a fountain and told them to give their power into the water like a seed. And so they did.

The girl opened her palm, willing her flame to leave her body and gather there, then she dropped it into the water where it shimmered in the light. The boy had more trouble, his flowers had become part of his daily image, in every mirror he saw them, but he willed it so. He plucked each petal from his skin, pinpricks of blood welling to the surface. She covered her eyes and turned away. He reassured her this is what he wanted. Each petal and stalk fell into the pool, floating on the surface. Drained and hurting, they finally fell into each other's arms.

Two years later and they're living together, they still feel the empty hole inside them where their power should be, but they both prefer to be with each other. To comfort each other. Curled up on a couch watching an old movie, suddenly their eyes are full of an image. No explanation or reasoning. It shows the fountain again, the white marble sparkling and the water crystal blue. Beside the water, nestled in the green grass grows a flower. Its petals pink and red with the flame dancing over it. The fire did not burn the flower, it seemed to give it life. Five words echoed through their minds, this is the fire flower.