heat waves been faking me out

Aurelia

don't worry about the
darkness in my soul

Once, he says, and her lips twist into a grimace because she knows what he's referring to. He thought she wanted to keep things that way, and all of it comes crashing down on her. Like a wave, or maybe it's more like a fire. But her gaze shifts a shade darker and she turns sharply to square her shoulders toward him and lock their eyes together.

"Thought that I wanted to keep things what way? The same? Nothing's the same anymore, Sunjata. Maybe this would've been easier before, when it would've meant nothing-" she blurts out, tone heated, chest rising and falling in tandem with her shallower breaths. But her point cuts off because she doesn't know where to take it.

With a snort, she looks away sharply and folds her arms over her chest. Her tone sombers and she admits, "I thought I did, too. But... I don't know. There's something I feel for you that I've never felt for anyone else. I'm just.. drawn to you, and I don't know why. I don't know what it is." Whatever hurt she feels takes the form of frustration, and she lets it for the moment, but she's trying to be honest anyway. Her lips purse shut tightly as ash starts to cling to her skin, muddying it, and she glances up at him again.

it ignites me
like an embered coal