burned. cold. burned by the fire. cold embers. didnt hurt. shocked i could feel. numb. asleep. gone. fingers. tendrils. reach out to touch. falling too short. always. too short. cant reach. the flames. they lick. closer each time. still. too short. cant touch. cant. try, they do. so hard. only to fall short each time. burning. the fire dares not go out. the inky darkness swallows it up. burning.