you're too young & eager to love

So, I make my AP students, about once every week 1/2, respond to a creative writing journal. Today's prompt was: write a poem or short story/excerpt starting with the line, "The world was on fire, and no one could save me but you."

My 4th block set that it would only be fair if I set myself to the same challenge. We had 10 minutes to write. This is what I produced.

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The world was on fire and no one could save me but you.

But you smell like ashes and there’s embers in your hair, with your silhouette singed to the wall. You used to hate the smell of smoke, the taste of fire on your tongue. You used to hate the weight that came with being responsible for someone else. You used to hate the burden.

Maybe the fire purges us both. You’re cleansed in flame, and I’m struggling to grasp the last bit of you that cannot burn my hungry fingertips. You could be a phoenix, your wings scarlet feathers, your eyes gilded and molten.