“Isn’t it wild, Adaora?” I muse softly, catching your attention without lifting my gaze.

“What’s on your mind?” you inquire, your voice barely a whisper.

“Isn’t it wild that we might put ourselves on fire, for people who would not recognize that the warmth they feel has been coming from us all along?” I ponder, my words hanging in the air.

“I do not know what you mean.”  you murmur, your eyes reflecting uncertainty.

“Isn’t it wild that all you have left of me is ashes?” I continue, a hint of resignation in my tone.

Silence envelops us as I watch Laida retreat, the earth beneath her feet whispering of finality. It’s the last time our paths will cross, and you, you understood without words.

You knew, didn’t you? But isn’t it equally wild that Laida remained oblivious to the dampness of your fuel, unaware that each attempt to reignite the flame only quenched it further? Laida possessed your heart, yet the love… it lingered in the shadows, an unseen force amidst the darkness.