aurora . d6 . fin

A U R O R A    E M E R S O N

age 6 ~

The flame flickers brightly on the stove top. I watch closely as the flame turns from orange to blue and then to yellow as my fingers fiddle with the knob. Letting go the the knob I watch the flames dance, the colours dancing together like two lovers. My face is close to the flame now, my lips only a breath away, and yet I feel nothing expect for the warmth of the flame kissing my skin.

Mum had told me that flames were hot, that if I got too close I would burn myself. "Fire is dangerous, Aurora. Get too close and you will be burnt," her hands moved to cup my face on either side, her lips pulled back into a wide smile. "And we don't want that, do we?" Lips pressed against the tip of my nose, I had giggled, wrapping my arms around her neck as she pulled me in for a tight hug.

The memory fades as I reach out for the flame, my fingers dipping into the depth of flame. Watching my skin starts to change colour, flesh becoming red and agitated. Small welts appear, but the more alarming thing was the smell-

"Aurora!" My mothers gasps, desperate hands grasping my shoulders firmly as I am ripped away from the flame. "What are you doing?!" she cries, quickly turning off the burner as she crouches down before me, hands gently examining the burnt flesh of my finger. "Darling..." quickly she tugs me towards the sink, turning on the faucet water splashes into the basin. "Quickly, hold it under here."

I watch as mum fusses, moving around me making soothing noises. But I couldn't understand the fuss. It didn't hurt. I hadn't felt anything. Why was she so worried? Why did she look at me with eyes filled with concern as she called for dad, telling him that we needed to go to the hospital. To grab some pain medicine. It doesn't hurt, I want to reassure her, but I stay quiet.

Why didn't it hurt?

* * *

Age 10 ~

"Aurora! Come on!" Nesta runs ahead of her, lips pulled back into a wide grin, the early summer breeze whipping through my light brown hair. The sun had just begun to rise above the horizon, dousing the district in light. She had come knocking on the house door loudly, mum and dad groaning with disapproval as I had followed her from the house, singing my goodbyes.

Running, my blood begins to pump, my muscles begin to burn-

A loud crack, my ankle twists, I come tumbling to the ground. "Ah aaahhhh!" I groan, picking myself up.

Nesta had stopped, my name on her lips as she runs to my side, that familiar look of concern shining brightly in their depth. "Aurora! Are you okay?"She cries, frantic eyes looking down my body for injuries.

"I'm fine, Nesta. Stop fussing," sighing I push myself to my feet, dusting off the grass and dirt that had ingrained itself into my clothing. Something about my foot didn't feel quite right, but there was no pain. There was never any pain. But as my eyes turn back to meet Nesta's I know that something isn't quite right. "What?"

"Your ankle! You can't walk on it! I heard the crack, Aurora. And look at your knees, you're bleeding." She slings one of my arms across her shoulder, biting her lips in concern as we begin the slow march back to home. "Do you really not feel it?" She asks quietly, eyes watching as the sun climbed is ascend into the sky.

"I- I cant feel anything," I say quietly. Mum had tried to explain to me that I was different, that I had to be more careful than others as I was prone to hurting myself easier then them. You need to watch what you are doing, Aurora. If you don't one day you might seriously hurt yourself. But how could I hurt myself when I couldn't feel pain?

* * *

now ~

Cracking my knuckles I wee the blood from the corner of my mouth. His fist had struck me hard, blood filling my mouth. Running my tongue over my teeth I am pleased to find that none had been knocked loose. The boys face seemed to register surprise at my lack of response. Anyone else might have cried out in pain, cursing him for the strong smack to the face.

"Gonna have to hit me harder, if you want to see me cry."

The lie slips past my swollen lips easily, my eyes are challenge as I strike, my knuckles colliding with his stomach. The breath is knocked from his lung as he fold in on himself, gasping for breath. I smile a smile of a snake, my eyes stalking my prey as I prepare for the final strike. "Though, looks like the one crying tonight, will be you."

"Fuck you, Aurora!" He grunts, pulling his shoulders back as his eyes shoot daggers at me, burning with the fury of hell.

"Awww, you're cute when you're mad," I say sweetly, circling him. I was poking the bear now, waiting for its temper to snap. Waiting for it to strike out with a lethal strike. Make it hurt, I want to scream at him. Nut I don't, facing him fearlessly as he prepares his next attack. I don't try to dodge as he sees his knee into my gut, quickly followed by a sharp jab to the temple.

I see black, stars dancing as I fight for air, my lungs refusing to open my air ways. "Not. Hard. Enough." I pant, my world spinning as my hands collide with the hard ground.

I still feel nothing, I think meekly as my world fades to black.