Burning Down Again

'So, I guess we're back to this hell again, huh?'

The entire experience feels too unpleasantly familiar to Ercilia that it's difficult to simply cast it aside as an obvious result of the present circumstances. Everything is so overwhelmingly hot - so overwhelmingly loud. But the thing that hurts the most is the great sense of fear that has nearly swallowed Ercilia whole so many times. 

Meir slips his hand into hers. It's soft and warm. Ercilia wants to remember that. 

He stares up at her with those precious, gem-like eyes of his, expression filled with so much adoration that she knows she doesn't deserve. Even with the bloodstains on his clothes and the look of exhaustion on his face, he seems very glad and hopeful. 

Ercilia would do anything to keep that smile on Meir. 

'And this is exactly why I always get myself into this kind of trouble. I really never learn.'