Through Ash

by John Carbone

The burning lumber spit embers as if to say, "Let's get out of this fucking pit." Pining for the surprise of pale giants miles off. The quiet churning of flame sounded somewhere between a whisper and a distant roar. In the purr and crackling, I heard it speak my name. It said, "Feed me your wounds. Feed me your past and I shall burn this cage that ye may stand." I obliged. In the blaze, I found my tears. But the Inferno warmed my heart and dried my eyes. In that moment, I was my name.