The fire’s heat beads upon my brow.
I stare awake, unfamiliar from that realm.
In the dark and downy warmth I see
flames puffing at my thatched roof
exploding kerosene lamps
chewing homespun curtains.
My charred hand can’t ring the firebell.
Fear ripples my scalp.
Wind lightly touches silk drapes.
I glance at the digital clock.
Its glaring numbers, crimson accusers
to a life now ashes
As I drift back in sleep.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Colleen Anderson’s nearly 200 pieces of fiction and poetry are in such venues as Chilling Tales, Evolve, and Cemetery Dance. She has been an Aurora nominee, received honorable mentions in the Year’s Best anthologies and is in Imaginarium and Best of Horror Library (forthcoming). New pieces are in Nameless, Our World of Horror, OnSpec, Polu Texni and Exile Book of New Canadian Noir.
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