There was darkness, hell really. It corrupted me. Breaking me thin until I suffocated in my sin of demons, swimming amongst them buried deep. Only one hand to reach... and then in a grasp I felt that of another. His grip firm as he tugged, pulling me from a place I never thought to escape... and now I breathe again, awakened.

She believed in love but that wasn't what she craved. She yearned for a soul that was broken yet, brave. One that can weld into hers as melted liquid, blended in heat. A passion that ignites her bright, that gleams her soul as that of star light. With very little fate, she believed the fire exists and indeed it did the minute she saw his wild eyes. 

"Come on, A. You know that you're going to love this place. I promise it'll be safe." that's what my best friend Julie said as she hailed a taxi. It was about 17 below 0 and somehow she managed to drag me out of my snuggie. "Do you remember me having to drag your ass home?" I said with folded arms and pressed blood red frozen lips. She chuckles as the taxi comes up curbside "Ok, it won't be like that. This is more... pleasure" her trailed words leave me with an arched brow and sudden concern.

Deciding not to be the Debbie downer I get into the flow of the night taking a few selfies, duck face and all, laughing to myself. We pull up and Julie gives $20 to the driver. We exit to a block that is completely vacated with only a darkened alley ahead. "Umm... Jules, where are we?" She hands me a mask. "Just follow." she says and I do. We walk down the alley and stop at a metal framed door. Knocking three times a small window creeks open and she says three words "The white rabbit." he opens.

Big, tall, and muscular he steps aside as we walk passed and through a hallway. Low colors begin to scheme across of red and black and with each flash of red there's a couple. Each in a different position and I stop, Julie turns "It's ok! I promise!" as she speaks I feel hands over my shoulders and a low husk whisper "Listen to your friend." The linger of his words give me a sudden arousal as they brush my earlobe and I turn but its too dark. Another flare of red sparks as Julie takes my hand, pulling me away into the rabbit whole.

I remember the day his eyes came across mine, of course it was that of a mere glance, but still enough to consume my mind. I recall looking through his basket that sat just over his forearm. Pasta, ground meat and meat sauce. It was obvious his choice of food for the night was spaghetti, but suddenly I found myself in a daze of not so much what he was making but rather with whom. Was he alone making dinner? Or was it for him and another or perhaps even a family? Then again, the quantity in his basket proved it would more likely be one of the first two.

He neared me as I attempted to take my eyes away and that was the moment he turned to me with a swift smile. It was at that moment that I literally could’ve dropped the entire jar of bolognaise sauce on the tiled white market floor.

“Excuse me” he said and I stuttered, hesitant to respond.

I could feel the seconds pass in my lack of speech as he stood in stare and decided to step back, nodding along like an idiot.

He looks to me once more and with a slight smirk said “Good thing it’s just me eating.” 

As he took the container of parmesan cheese and walked off. 

I turned my eyes to follow as the stranger with jaded eyes exited, my thoughts gathered and in a breath I whispered… “He’s alone like me”