The Curse we call LOVE 🖤🦢

The house was burning.

Flames licked at every corner of the structure, rising higher into the pitch-black night sky like cruel, hungry beasts. Windows shattered into a million glittering shards. Heavy, suffocating smoke filled the air, choking out the stars.

And somewhere behind those burning, crumbling walls

My mother was trapped.

“Mumma!”

I screamed, my little feet moving desperately over the rough ground as I sprinted toward the roaring inferno.

“Mumma, please!”

Tears streamed down my cheeks, burning against my skin.

My tiny voice broke into terrified sobs as I stumbled forward through the dark. Through the thick, blinding smoke, a familiar face appeared right behind the roaring flames. My mother's trembling, ash-stained lips moved.

“Myra…”

Her voice was weak. Barely audible over the sound of wood snapping. But I heard it. I always heard my mother.

“Mumma!” I rushed toward the front door, my chest heaving. “I’m coming! I'll save you, Mumma!”

I reached out and blindly grabbed the metal door handle. The very second my fingers touched it

“Ahh!”

I immediately yanked my hand back with a sharp gasp. It was searing hot. My tiny palm stung terribly, skin instantly turning bright red, but I didn't care. I reached for it again.

“Mumma! Please hold on!”

"Nothing will happen to you, Mumma."

My voice trembled violently as I pressed close to the heat. “Please… I’m here! I’ll get you out!”

From inside, my mother coughed violently, choked by the dark air. “Myra…”

“Mumma!”

I looked around desperately, my mind spinning out of control. There had to be another way. I sprinted toward the nearest window locked tight. I scrambled to another jammed. Every single entrance was swallowed whole by fire.

“No…” My breathing spiraled into wild, uneven gasps. “No, no…”

I lunged right back toward the front door, my small hands trembling. “Mumma, hold on!”

I tried pulling the blistering handle again, ignoring the blinding pain in my hand. “I'll save you!” My voice shattered completely.

(Main aapko kuch nahi hone dungi.) "I won't let anything happen to you."

My mother stared at me through the wall of fire, her dark eyes reflecting the destruction around them. “Myra…”

“Mumma, please!” I pressed my small, burned hands against the hot glass of the window, my voice dropping into a frantic whisper.

(Mujhe chhod kar mat jaana.) "Please don't leave me."

My voice became smaller, weaker, stripped of all strength.

"I have no one except you."

My mother’s eyes filled with heavy tears. Slowly, with every ounce of strength left in her frail body, she lifted a trembling hand toward the glass, trying to reach me one last time.

“Myra…”

“Mumma…”

“Run.”

I immediately shook my head, tears flying from my eyes.

"No!"

“I’m not leaving you!”

(Main aapko chhod ke nahi jaungi.)"I'm not leaving you!"

“Please… Please come outside!”

My mother coughed again, her body trembling violently as smoke invaded her lungs. “Myra, listen to me…”

"No, Mumma."

I shook my head harder, refusing to accept the nightmare unfolding in front of me.

(Aapko kuch nahi hoga.) "Nothing will happen to you. I'll save you."

The flames suddenly roared louder, surging upward like a wave.

“Myra…” Her mother’s voice trembled with a final, heartbreaking tenderness.

“Mumma! Please!”

"I'm not going!"

I desperately reached both arms toward the window frame.

"Please come outside, Mumma."

Slowly, my mother's face began to disappear behind a dense, gray veil of smoke.

“Myra…”

“Mumma!”

“I love you.”

I froze. My lower lip trembled uncontrollably as the words pierced through my heart.

(Main bhi aapse bohot pyaar karti hoon…) "I love you too… so much."

And then

BOOM!

The entire house exploded in a deafening, blinding blast.

I went completely still. For one horrifying, agonizing second the entire world lost its sound. Everything went dead silent.

Then, right before my wide, terrified eyes, the roof caved in, and the structure collapsed into the sea of fire.

“Mumma…?”

I stared blankly at the roaring inferno, my mind refusing to process the scene. My pupils dilated in pure horror.

“Mumma!”

Without thinking, I surged forward to throw myself straight into the burning wreckage, but before I could take another step two strong hands locked tightly around my shoulders from behind, dragging me back.

“Myra!”

“Let me go!” I thrashed wildly in the grip, fighting with every muscle in my tiny body.

“My mumma is inside!” I kicked, twisted, and scratched frantically at the arms holding me.

“I have to save her! Let me go!”

(Mujhe unke paas jaana hai!) "I need to go to her!"

The iron grip around me only tightened, refusing to let me walk into death. I reached out toward the roaring flames with both of my small, burned hands, stretching as far as I could.

“Please! Mujhe jaane do!”

Tears washed tracks through the soot on my face as I sobbed, my heart tearing completely open.

(Mumma ko bachao!) "Save my Mumma!"

But there was no answer from the dark night. No voice calling back to me. Only the deafening roar of the hungry fire, the rising pillars of black smoke, and the hollow sound of my own broken sobs echoing in the air.

The person holding me stared grimly at the blazing ruins. Then came the three words that I knew would destroy me forever.

“She’s gone…”

I instantly stopped struggling.

My entire body went stiff as ice. My lips parted, but no air came out.

“No…”

I slowly, weakly shook my head, staring blankly ahead.

"No…"

My eyes remained fixed on the dancing orange flames swallowing my world whole.

(Mumma nahi gayi.) "Mumma isn't gone."

My voice dropped to a hollow, barely audible whisper. “She can't…”

No one contradicted me. Silence was my only answer.

(Meri Mumma mujhe chhod kar nahi ja sakti…) "My Mumma can't leave me…"

My voice broke into pieces, vanishing into the night wind. I just stood there in the arms of a stranger, staring endlessly at the burning house.

And for the first time in that cold, dark, smoke-filled night I finally understood.

My mother was never coming back.

The flames continued to dance and burn into the sky, and somewhere deep inside my helpless little heart something shattered, quiet and permanent, never to be fixed again.

My eyes flew open.

I sat bolt upright in bed, my chest heaving as I swallowed air in desperate, frantic gulps. My heart was hammering against my ribs so hard it almost felt painful, and a cold sweat clung to my skin, making my nightclothes stick to me.

(Phir se wohi khwab...) I thought, pressing my palm flat against my chest to stop the violent shaking. Again...

For several terrifying seconds, reality blurred. The smell of smoke still burned at the back of my throat. The heat of the roaring flames. My mother's trembling, ash-stained face. That deafening, horrifying explosion. It all felt so agonizingly real that my hands instinctively curled into fists, checking my palms for burns that weren't there.

I looked around my dark, quiet bedroom, forcing my eyes to adjust to the dim moonlight filtering through the curtains.

My eyes flicked to the digital clock on the nightstand.

10:00 P.M.

I swallowed hard, my throat raw and dry.

“Another nightmare... another night,” I whispered into the empty room, my voice barely a thread. (Aakhir kab tak, Mumma? Kab tak yeh yaadein mujhe aise tadpayengi?) (How long, Mumma? How long will these memories torment me like this?)

I gripped my bedsheets tightly, my knuckles turning white as my breathing slowly tried to settle.

This doesn't feel like a dream... it feels like this actually happened. Like it's some forgotten reality of mine...

A chill ran down my spine, making me shudder. But then I forced myself to stop, letting out a weak, hollow breath.

(Par yeh kaise ho sakta hai?) I reasoned with myself, pressing my cold fingers against my aching temples. (Mumma ki death toh ek car accident mein hui thi. Amma aur Ahaan Bhai ne mujhe khud bataya tha... woh bhala mujhse jhooth kyun bolenge? Unhone toh mujhe hamesha sambhala hai.)

But how is that possible? Mumma died in a car accident. Amma and my brother told me themselves... why on earth would they lie to me? They've always taken care of me.

I shook my head at my own ridiculous thoughts, a sad, self-deprecating smile touching my lips.

(Pagal ho gayi hoon main bhi. Itna kyun sochti hoon?) I scolded myself quietly. (Zaahir hai, jab subho sham Mumma ki yaad aayegi, unki kami mehsoos hogi, toh dimaag aise hi ajeeb aur khaufnaak khwab dikhayega na...)

(I'm going crazy. Why do I overthink so much? Obviously, when I miss Mumma day and night and feel her absence so deeply, my brain is bound to show me such weird and terrifying nightmares...)

Yet, a tiny, nagging ache twisted deep inside my heart.

Five years. It had been five whole years since that tragic day, but the most painful part was the dark void in my mind. The trauma of losing her had wiped my memory clean of those final weeks. I couldn't remember her last days at all. No matter how hard I tried to dig into my mind, those last few memories with her were completely blank erased, as if they never existed.

Tears welled up in my hazel eyes, burning the corners as I looked up toward the ceiling.

(Mumma... I miss you. I miss you so, so much...) I whimpered in my thoughts, a heavy tear slipping down my pale cheek and sinking into my collarbone

(I miss you so badly. I wish you were here with me...)

Sighing softly, I reached toward the glass of water resting beside my bed, desperate to wash away the bitter taste of ash lingering in my mouth. But my hands were trembling too violently. The moment my fingers wrapped around the smooth glass

Crash!

It slipped right out of my unsteady grip, shattering into tiny, glittering pieces across the hardwood floor.

I closed my eyes, letting out a long, exhausted sigh, resting my forehead against my knees. (Wah Myra... shabaash. Ab yeh saaf karo.) Wow Myra... well done. Now clean this up.)

“Great…”

I kicked the heavy duvet away and slowly swung my legs over the edge of the bed. My bare feet hit the icy floorboards, and a sharp shiver ran straight up my spine. For a long moment, I just sat there in the dark, clutching my arms around myself, trying to calm the wild, suffocating storm still raging inside my head.

The nightmare. The burning house. Her terrified, tear-filled eyes.

I need to go outside... or I won't be able to breathe.

Rubbing my tired, stinging eyes with the back of my hand, I forced myself to stand up, carefully stepping around the shattered glass on the floor. I dragged my feet toward the floor-to-ceiling window and pulled the heavy velvet curtain aside.

Outside, the night was pitch-black. Heavy, bruised clouds smothered the sky like a dark, suffocating blanket. A soft drizzle misted over the garden while the wind whispered restlessly through the ancient trees, making their dark branches sway like shadows.

I leaned my forehead against the cool glass. Somehow, the chill of the darkness felt lighter than the suffocating walls of my own room.

“I need fresh air…” I breathed out, closing my eyes as I filled my lungs with the cool night air. “I really need fresh air.”

A tiny pause lingered between my words before I let out a dry, bittersweet chuckle.

“And maybe I need to stop thinking so much.” I ran a hand through my messy hair, a weary smile touching my lips. “Yeah… brilliant plan, Myra.”

Quietly, I reached for the brass door handle and pulled my bedroom door open.

Creak.

I froze instantly, my breath catching in my throat as my eyes widened in sheer panic. I stood completely still, waiting for a light to flip on down the corridor or a stern voice to call out my name.

Silence. Everyone was fast asleep.

(Thank God...) I breathed out, relaxing my shoulders.

Stepping barefoot into the dim, carpeted hallway, I began my careful descent down the grand staircase, hugging the railing tightly. One step. Then another. I reached the main hall, casting a quick, vigilant glance around the shadowed space. Silent. Empty. Perfect.

I crept over to the heavy wooden front door and carefully turned the brass latch.

Creak.

I winced in absolute agony, closing my eyes tight. Please, please don't wake up...I shot a panicked look toward the top of the stairs, my heart in my mouth. Still nothing.

Letting out a long, shaky breath of relief, I slipped outside into the cool night air and gently pulled the door shut behind me, leaving it just an inch unlatched so I wouldn't get locked out.

The cool, rain-kissed breeze brushed against my warm face, instantly washing away the lingering heat of the nightmare. I closed my eyes, tilting my head up toward the dark sky. For the first time since waking up from that horror I actually felt my lungs expand.

“Much better…” My tense shoulders finally dropped.

Then a familiar, soft white movement near the edge of the garden caught my eye.

I turned, and the heavy weight sitting on my chest instantly dissolved. My tired, solemn expression melted into something soft, warm, and endlessly fond.

There she was. Miee babyyy My Snowy.

The beautiful white swan was resting right beside her small stone water tub, her snowy feathers glowing softly beneath the faint yellow garden lights.

(Mera bachha...) My heart melted just looking at her.

Snowy wasn't just a pet to me; she was my sanctuary. In a world that often felt too loud, too heavy, and too full of painful memories, this dramatic, arrogant little bird was my whole world. My baby. The only creature who held my entire heart in her webbed feet without even trying.

“Hey, Snowy…” I called out softly, stepping onto the damp grass.

The moment my voice reached her, Snowy immediately lifted her long, elegant neck. She turned, stared straight into my eyes for a brief, dramatic second... and then deliberately, haughtily turned her head completely away from me.

I narrowed my hazel eyes, folding my arms tightly across my chest as a gasp escaped my lips. “Oh? So you are ignoring me now?”

Snowy gave a tiny, extremely dramatic shake of her tail feathers, puffing up her wings as if to say, You're beneath my notice, human.

I gasped louder, my jaw literally dropping in disbelief. “Excuse me?!”

Snowy cast another brief, side-eye glance back at me before turning her beak toward the sky with pure disdain.

I dramatically placed a palm over my heart, shaking my head in utter defeat. “Wow. Such attitude. Who taught you this, huh?”

Snowy let out a soft, low, offended sound from her throat. "Honk."

I couldn't stop the quiet giggle that bubbled up from my chest, my bad dream completely forgotten. “Still awake, my royalty?”

The swan stretched her neck high, preening a single white feather with absolute vanity.

“You couldn't sleep either, could you?” I asked gently, my voice softening as I took a few steps closer.

Another soft, muffled sound echoed from her.

“Aww… my poor baby.” I crouched down on the wet grass right beside her tub, my hazel eyes shining with pure affection. “Come here to Mumma.”

I carefully reached out, running my fingers through her soft, damp feathers. Snowy leaned her head right into my palm, letting out a satisfied little hum that made my heart swell with warmth.

I smiled fondly, stroking the top of her head. “That's my good girl... You know, I had a horrible nightmare again.”

Snowy blinked her dark, intelligent eyes, tilting her head as if actually listening to my confession.

“Yes, you,” I said, poking a gentle finger toward her beak. “Don't look at me like that with those big innocent eyes! I know I sound like a dramatic mess.”

Snowy tilted her neck to the other side, looking entirely unconvinced and mildly judgment-filled.

I laughed softly under my breath, my fingers lightly scratching under her chin. “Exactly! At least you get me. You're literally the only one in this entire house who listens to all my nonsense without judging me or interrupting.”

Snowy made another soft, low sound, nudging her beak against my palm.

“See? I knew you loved me,” I beamed, carefully extending both hands to scoop her up into my arms. “Come on, let's go sit on the porch swing.”

The second my hands drew near her wings, Snowy took a swift, deliberate step backward.

My hands froze mid-air. My eyebrows lifted high. “Snowy…”

The swan took another tiny, extremely deliberate step away, her dark eyes locking onto mine.

I stared at her in absolute shock. “Don't you dare.”

Snowy took another step back.

“Snowy.”

Another step.

“My God…” I pointed an accusing finger at her, completely exasperated. “Are you seriously doing this to me right now? At ten in the night? In the rain?!”

Without a single shred of remorse, Snowy suddenly turned her back on me, picked up her webbed feet, and began waddling at a surprisingly brisk pace toward the open garden gate.

“Hey!” I scrambled to my feet, my jaw hitting the floor. “Snowy, come back here!”

The white feathers bobbed up and down in the dark as she accelerated.

“You little troublemaker!” Spotting my large black umbrella resting beside the porch, I grabbed it in a hurry and hurried after her. “Snowy! Stop!”

The swan actually stopped mid-stride, turned her long neck, and glanced over her shoulder straight at me.

I stopped dead in my tracks, utterly aghast. “Did you just look back at me to see if I was following?!”

Snowy turned forward and picked up the pace into a full-blown, chaotic waddle.

My mouth fell completely open. “Oh, you're doing this on purpose! You naughty girl!”

A loud laugh burst from my lips as I popped the umbrella open, holding it over my head while running out through the garden gate after the feathered rebel. “Wait for me!”

Snowy was practically sprinting on her tiny webbed feet now, heading straight down the empty street.

“Snowy!” I hurried onto the wet asphalt, my bare feet splashing into cold rainwater. “Don't make me run after you in the dark! What if a stray dog sees you?!”

Snowy kept going like she owned the entire neighborhood.

“My God, you're impossible!”

The rain was falling a little harder now, tapping a steady, rhythmic beat against the fabric of my umbrella. I held it tightly, my hazel eyes fixed on the fast-moving ball of white feathers ahead of me.

“Why do you always do this when I'm tired?” I huffed, breathless but grinning despite myself. “You know I had a bad dream, right? You're supposed to comfort me, not give me a heart attack!”

Silence, save for the soft slapping of her webbed feet against the pavement.

“Wow. Unbothered as always. You're really not sorry at all, are you?”

Snowy glanced back for a fraction of a second, letting out a tiny, sassy honk.

I pointed my finger straight at her from a few feet away. “Don't you dare give me that innocent look! I know what you are you're a tiny tyrant in white feathers!”

Snowy made a soft, defensive sound, as if arguing back.

I shook my head, laughing fondly as my feet splashed through another puddle. “Oh, now you want to argue with me?” I sighed softly, my voice dripping with pure affection. “Come here, you crazy girl... let's go back inside.”

But just as I finally closed the distance between us, reaching out to grab her, Snowy suddenly took a sharp left and darted straight around the dark corner of a narrow street.

My smile instantly vanished.

“Snowy?”

Panic surged through my chest as I rounded the bend, my heart leaping into my throat. “Hey! Snowy!”

The swan had waddled straight into a narrow, pitch-black, unlit alleyway.

I halted right at the mouth of the alley, scanning the deep, suffocating shadows ahead. The streetlights from the main road barely reached a few feet into the gloom, leaving the rest swallowed whole by darkness.

“Snowy...?” Nothing.

The laugh died in my throat. My smile faded entirely, replaced by a sudden, uneasy chill that had nothing to do with the rain.

“Where did you go...?”

Holding the umbrella tight, I took a slow, hesitant step into the dark alley, my bare feet cringing at the wet, rough ground.

“Snowy, come back here right now. This isn't funny anymore.”

The alley was completely deserted, wrapped in a heavy, eerie quiet, save for the patter of rain falling around us. I walked deeper into the gloom, my eyes darting nervously toward the towering, dark walls surrounding me.

“You know…” I let out a long, shaky breath, trying to laugh off the sudden anxiety creeping up my spine. “I'm starting to think you actually enjoy making me panic.”

No answer. Only the cold wind whistling through the shadows.

“My God, Snowy… You're going to give me grey hair before my time.” A faint, affectionate smile tugged weakly at my lips as I took another step forward.

I had no idea that just a few feet ahead, hidden deep within those pitch-black shadows, my crazy little bird was about to walk straight into the cold, deadly path of the city's most dangerous man and pull me right into the dark world I had spent my entire life running from.