The Devil I chose

Prologue

I met the devil today.

He came dressed like every prayer I'd whispered into the dark and every foolish dream I'd carried for far too long.

Charm, chocolate and sin wrapped in exactly the kind of package I never stood a chance against.

He smiled, and the world seemed to tilt ever so slightly.

"Kiss me," he said, "and I'll give you everything you've ever wanted."

"Touch me, and you'll never feel lonely again."

"Love me, and I'll lay the world at your feet."

I should have laughed.

I should have walked away.

Instead, I faltered.

The fire was hot.

God knows I felt the heat of it.

I saw the danger in every spark, every promise, every beautiful lie waiting to be believed.

I knew exactly where that road ended.

Ruin. Heartbreak. Ashes.

My mind whispered: This will destroy you.

My heart whispered back: Maybe.

Then, after a pause:

So what if it does?

Because the terrible truth was that he didn't feel like destruction.

He felt like warmth.

Not the kind that scorches.

The kind that settles into cold places and makes you forget you've been freezing.

The kind that wraps itself around your ribs and convinces you that staying a little longer couldn't possibly hurt.

I couldn't look away.

And God help me

After a lifetime of being cold,

I didn't want to.