I woke up sitting in a cloud. Thick grey clouds in a hazy fog hugged me as they danced around the room. It would’ve been a fun dream but there was a hot burn hiding behind the fog. It was so hot that I was sweating. I wasn’t sure where the heat was coming from though, especially because most of my dreams take place somewhere snowy. I tried to push the heat out of thought and look around the room. My night light danced pretty reds and oranges in a salsa of passion behind my veil. It looked really cool, especially since I hadn’t known it changed colors. It used to be a blue light.

I stumbled to the floor in my venture to get water. I had to push past the clouds, who really must’ve liked my company because they protested with stinging my eyes and burning my lungs a bit. I never thought clouds would be such an abusive friend. I froze in my journey because my blue light sat in the plug, a stationary pirouette. It was as blue as ever, no hints of red to be seen. The heat quickened with my heartbeat. I reached out to the door knob but it was way too hot to the touch. The only thing I knew to do was return to my bed, my haven. I jumped into the covers and peered through my friends.

What I thought were lights at first, were actually alive. A bright being that danced in dirty seduction, licking my walls and tantalizing my possessions as it whirled by. It must’ve been hungry too because it grew over my toys and my dresser. I watched it nibble away on my dolly as she slowly melted and joined his waltz. I watched his dark art slowly corrupt everything I held dear. All of my favorite baby dolls faces’ were melting into something unrecognizable.

I sat there on the bed, panning my head around to see the chaos behind my clouds. My throat beckoned to the fire lord as it ached and burned. Even in the blazing fire pit, I still wanted my wanted my blankie and covered my legs with it. It seemed I caught a glance from the fire for a brief moment before spun around with my teddy bear curtains. It was a look of satisfaction or knowing. I wanted to call out and asked why he looked smug but my throat was too dry. It didn’t take long to understand what he was saying though; he knew I was going to die. The weirdest part was that I didn’t disagree with him. I let him continue to dance his flaming dance with the ash that was my curtains.

I accepted I was going to die, that I wasn’t able to get out and that I would have to join his dance. I hoped my face wouldn’t turn out like my dolls. I laid down my head with my blankie draped over me and the clouds still hovering around me. I wasn’t scared or nervous which I should’ve been faced with my own death. I was calm, peaceful. I had always been terrified when I thought about dying but at that moment I felt like a big girl who didn’t cry or get scared. I was willing to accept it if my time had come.

It wasn’t my time though; my dad burst through the door and scooped me up before I even had time to blink. He took off running and I watched as my clouds were left lingering behind. One moment I was awaiting my demise and the next, I’m rushing through the house. I remember distinct things I saw when we were rushing out. The TV screen had melted a little bit and the house was black now in places. I didn’t hear any whimpering so I assumed the dog was outside.

I felt a gush of cold air and my heart leaped. We ran right through the door-less frame and outside to the lawn. He ran a little farther down to the edge of the driveway and dropped me to my feet. Before I could ask or say anything he was gone. A large fireman ran by me and knocked me down. I tried to say something to him but my throat was harsh and raw. The ground was still cold and wet from the storm, but it felt nice in comparison to the room.

I looked up to the burning house and it no longer appeared to be dancing. It looked more like triumph, one of those little victory struts that football players do after the touchdown that doesn’t resemble dancing. I was just sitting on the cold road staring into my old burning tomb. My dad returned sometime while I was mesmerized and snapped me out of my trance. He carried me to the neighbor’s house. They were all awake but you could tell they weren’t supposed to be. The mom and dad started to talk to my dad and I scooted up to the twins sitting at the table. They had pokemon toys thrown around the table and said I could play with any of them I wanted. I picked up a little blue one named Squirtle and a big orange, fire type one named Charizard. It reminded me of my room again and the little blue light up against the huge fire. I wondered how long the little Squirtle lasted against the giant Charizard.