Black smoke billowed from the seventeenth window on the second side. Inside, an orange glow flickered softly, bathing the interior in a wash of flame. In the firelight, there stood a man. A fireman, his shadow stretched long. A second shadow sprung across the threshold, and the red lady began to dance. He watched her as she swayed gently, sweeping her scarlet dress all across the floor. On occasion, she would smolder and her searing demeanor would wane. Tentatively, he would step forward, until she spun away again in a swirling blaze, and he would recoil from licks of heat. She was a red-hot beauty, all men knew—too hot to touch. But that did not deter them—they would keep coming back, over and over, relentless. He was no different. Completely entranced, he watched her dance, unable to look away. Her arms, long and slender, swung to a rhythm only she could hear. The way she moved, none could explain it. At once devastating and lovely, she danced on a wire of dynamite, over the edge of ruin itself. As she spun on white hot fire, her flames grew ever higher, untamed. In that instance, the fireman knew—he could neither live nor die until his hands caressed the cheek of his one true love, the red lady. Her kiss could not burn him, for his love burned brighter than the lady herself.
Mustering his courage, the fireman stepped towards his lady. Slowly, he advanced, his eyes never leaving her. As she leapt, unfettered by the fireman, her scarlet train sailed through the air, leaving a trail of black smoke in its wake. Still, the fireman crept forward, until he was face to face with the lady. She danced in circles around him, and the fireman felt her warmth on his arm. A thrill shot through his body as she danced ever closer. He was going to do what no man had ever dared to. He reached out his strong hand towards her, stretching it long and far, until he felt the kiss of her skin on his fingers…
A crackle and a whip of heat sent him flying backwards. He screamed in agony, his fingers burnt raw, blistering in pain. He could hardly open his eyes, for the pain was paralyzing. How dare you try and touch me, a voice hissed. The fireman, tears dripping down his chin, winced, clutching his bleeding hand. “Oh lady, fair lady, I have not come to harm you! I confess that I am completely and utterly in love with you, so much so that I have risked my own flesh to touch you!” The lady scoffed, throwing the train of her scarlet gown behind her. I am no fool. I know who you are. You are the man who fights fires. You’ve come to end my dancing for good! But know this: I shall dance forevermore! With that, she leapt from the window and into the cold. The fireman, horrified, sprang to his feet and hobbled to the window. He watched as she ran, far and fast. With a grunt of pain, he jumped from the window, chasing her through the lot. He ran until his lungs gave out, but he could not catch her. Defeated, he stood at the top of the highest hill overlooking the earth.
Gaining speed, she ran and ran, a comet streaking through the dusk. It was only when she reached the tip of the horizon did she stop and look back. Then she smiled, her velvet lips creased, her eyes unforgiving, and he knew. All at once, she leapt into the night, and when her dainty shoes touched the dark, it burst into flame. She was an inferno, twirling passionately through the night sky. Her fingers brushed the stars, and they caught fire. When she kissed the clouds, they combusted in a wash of mad orange fire. Relentlessly, she ravaged the constellations, casting thunderous heat from each swing of her long scarlet dress. Terrified, he begged her, on his knees, “Stop this madness, please, my lady, you may have the earth, but do not scorch the sky!” He realized his mistake too late. Your lady! she roared in outrage, causing the ground to tremble. The fireman shook in terror. Your lady! Her screams tore through the sky like fireworks, and the fireman collapsed to the ground. I answer to none, I burn for myself, and myself alone! You shall feel my wrath! She spun, faster than ever before, so fast that her flames became white hot. She no longer was a lady, but a ball of white light, devastating the sky and washing the night away in a wave of orange and red. She was an angel, with wings of white fire, roaring her revenge. He watched as she rose, high up in the sea of flames, spinning, spinning, spinning.. Until she stopped. There she stayed, a white spot, surrounded by nothing but flame. The fireman, watching the sky burn, began to cry. Sobbing for his life at the top of the hill, he cried out down to earth, “Heaven’s on fire! Oh, look and see, heaven’s on fire!” His lip trembled, and his heart tore. His tears flowed, pooling at his feet. He cried and cried, for all he had lost, for the beautiful stars and mystical moon, for the ink of the night and the chill of the evening wind. But above all, he cried for his lady, and his love.
A deep blue, his tears sparkled in the firelight like diamonds, as the pool at his feet grew tenfold. When it could hold no longer, it spilled over the hill, a flood of sorrow that streamed to the sea. The fireman, who could cry no more, wiped his eyes. Then, in shock, he looked at his fingers—they were healed. They glistened with his precious tears. Hope soared through him. “I understand it now,” he murmured. He watched as the wave of tears smashed into the horizon, spraying blue mist into the flames on impact. The wave receded, but the water began to seep into the sky. He couldn’t see it at first, but then it was there. It was small, surely, but a sight to behold. The water flowed through the sky, dousing the fires. The fireman jumped for joy, laughing and beaming with happiness. Soon enough, the sky was a lovely blue, and the water settled. As for the lady, she lay in the sky, exhausted from her night of dancing. Sleepily she muttered to herself, smiling, to a secret rhythm only she knew…
Heaven’s on Fire
She cast it in flames
One man’s desire
Forever his pain
Heaven’s on Fire
See blaze burn the stars
The orange stretched onwards
Both near and both far
Heaven’s on Fire
His own heart alight
Reflecting the ruin
Of this one lonely night
Heaven’s on Fire
The man, he is mourning
For all that can save him
Is cool blue of morning