Fireflies

I guess that I did the right thing. Alora thought. I just want to escape reality. The reality without him. I remember the time that we went to a park at midnight.

"Austin, it's a bit too late." Alora yawned.

"It's not that late. It's only twelve fifteen." He pulled her hand.

"Ouch, that hurts." She whined.

"Good. That means you are awake. Now, we have to hurry."

Once they reached the neighbourhood park, they sat in a bench.

"Oh, look." Austin pointed at a firefly. "What is it?"

"You can't tell me you don't know what that is." She laughed but he just stared at her. "You are serious. Well, they are called fireflies. Normal people should know what they are."

"I didn't have a proper childhood and I couldn't go to college." He shrugged. "I guess that's why I didn't know."

"I'm sorry for being so inconsiderate." Se held his hands.

"Don't worry." He ruffled her already messy hair. "Why do they glow?"

"A chemical called luciferin can be found in the cells that make up the firefly's light producing organs. When this chemical is combined with oxygen, it forms a new chemical called oxyluciferin which causes the firefly to produce light."

Austin stared at her again, this time, dumbfounded.

"It means a chemical reaction causes them to glow." She explained.

"Wow." He smiled. "You are really smart and they are really pretty." He caught one. "Look."

"You caught one and it's still buzzing around. I think you should... Did you, did you just swallow it?" She panicked.

"It's bitter." He coughed it up and the fly zoomed away. "Gross."

"Don't go eating bugs." She warned. "Heaven knows where they have been."

"I'll be more careful next time." He hugged her.

"Sometimes, I don't think you are the cold-blooded mafia boss that everyone talks about." She hugged him back. "I love you."

That was a very good memory. If only I didn't say anything to him. Is it my fault? I think it's his job that put my life on the line.

It would be better if I stayed out of his way.