Fires We Feed

All Eyes On Her

Two Months Later...

Ever since the breakup, I had become obsessed, my insecurities flaring up like open blisters.

I cried it out, binged bad rom-coms, ate too much ice cream, scrolled endlessly through my phone, and called friends just to hear a familiar voice. But it was like an itch you couldn’t scratch no matter what I did, the ache stayed, pulsing underneath everything.

Something had shifted in me years ago, though I didn’t recognize it at the time. Back then, I’d thrown myself into baking, experimenting with pastries and bread, losing hours to perfecting a single croissant. I couldn’t stop until everything was flawless. That same intensity, that same all-consuming focus, had returned now but it was aimed at her.

I couldn’t stop thinking about her. Her name kept repeating in my mind. Avery Jennings. It was like a spell I couldn’t break.

Her social media was on private so there was no way of knowing much from her except for band and fan page.

She should’ve just made her account public. Let the world see every wretched, dirty thing she’s done. Let them all witness how easily she steals, lies, and smiles. Let them see what moral decay looks like wrapped in pretty skin.

I wanted to believe there was nothing wrong with me, that I was beautiful in my own way tho my insecurities always slipped through.

Am I not sweet enough? Not wife material enough? Is it because I’m not as skinny as I used to be? Or is it because the girl he cheated on me with is younger and prettier?

I had to see her, and to tell her how she ruined my life unknowingly. I wanted to see the expression in her eyes that the man she's with now had been engaged to me.

This was the closure I needed. But I couldn't bring myself to do it- up until now.

It was ten years of my life. I had given him everything.

After learning about the affair, I moved out of the house, and he resigned from the hospital where we worked.

He ruined everything. No amount of apologies nor burnt pasta could ever make up for it.

I stepped out of the car, shivering as the cold night bit at my cheeks. My black jacket hugged me tightly, more for warmth than style. Though I’d picked it for tonight’s live show. It was one of those small, crowded bars where the music practically vibrates through your bones.

The neon lights bounced off the walls in erratic pinks and blues, painting the patrons in fleeting flashes of color. The crowd was young, easily ten years younger than me.

Great choice, Dan, I muttered under my breath. Somehow, he always knew the right spots.

Inside, the bar was already packed. People leaned against the counters, laughing, drinks in hand, eyes bright with excitement.

The air was warm, tinged with the scent of spilled beer and something sweet from the cocktail station. The band was setting up. Instruments gleaming under the neon haze, tuning and checking microphones.

I hugged my jacket tighter and pushed through the crowd, scanning the faces. Avery wasn’t here yet, but I knew she would be. My chest tightened with anticipation, that familiar mix of anxiety and obsession that had been building for months.

What am I doing here again?

My phone buzzed in my pocket. It was Liz, my sister. One of those night check-ins. I answered.

“Hey… where are you?” she asked, her voice tinged with worry.

“Just… out at the store. I’ll be back home in a few,” I said quickly, forcing my voice to sound casual.

There was a pause on the line. “The store? At this hour? Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, really. Just running a quick errand,” I replied, cutting the conversation short. “Gotta go.”

Before I could click “End,” the man on the mic spoke, his voice carrying over the low hum of the crowd.

“Ladies and gentlemen, give it up for tonight’s band. We know you all have been waiting for this. They're finally back. Grab your beers for Ash and Ivy!”

The name drew a cheer from the audience. Some whistles and claps punctuating the announcement.

He grinned, holding the mic higher for a second, soaking in the energy before stepping back to let the band take over. Neon lights bounced off the instruments as the first notes escaped through the room.

And then I saw her.

Avery. She was wearing a black crop top and short denim shorts. The fishnets stretching over her legs, ankle boots grounding her in the neon chaos. Bracelets jingled on her arms as she moved, subtle but captivating.

She wore a smoky black liner smudged just right, dark plum lips, and eyeshadow fading into violet and pink that made her icy blue eyes glow under the stage lights.

Her blonde hair fell in loose waves, streaked with red highlights that caught every flash of neon like fire.

She looked… heavenly. Every movement, every glance at the crowd, felt effortless and magnetic. The three guys behind her—the bass, drums, and keys—were skilled, keeping the rhythm tight, but it was her. All eyes were drawn to her, to the way she owned the space without even trying.

And then she sang.

I walked alone through endless nights,

The first line came soft, airy, almost fragile against the crashing guitars and pounding drums. Her voice was angelic. It was a delicate thread weaving through the storm of sound.

A fire inside that won’t forsake it.

The air felt electric, my chest tightening with something I couldn’t name. Obsession, awe, jealousy, desire—it all mixed into a sharp, delicious ache. I couldn’t look away.

I couldn’t help but shed a tear.

This woman was not just another woman. She was a force. Such a beauty that could stop hearts and turn heads without even trying.

Her confidence radiated in waves, her voice a siren song pulling everyone, including me, into her orbit. Every sway of her hips, every flick of her hair, every subtle smile at the crowd was magnetic, untouchable.

I closed my eyes and felt every word she sang.

And now I knew. Now I knew why he chose her over me. It wasn’t just her looks or her style. It was the way she commanded the room, the way she seemed to exist both for herself and for everyone else at once.

Lit my world with your firelight.

A storm of emotions hit me all at once: envy, admiration, heartbreak, desire. I had loved him, given him everything. Yet this woman had captured him in ways I couldn’t compete with.

When I opened my eyes, she was looking straight at me.

I’m chained to you, and I don’t wanna break.

Our gazes locked, and for a heartbeat, it was like nothing else existed. The neon lights, the thrum of bass, the cheering crowd. All of it faded into nothing. It was just her and me.

Her eyes burned with a fire I couldn’t name. It wasn’t anger or malice. It was intensity, raw and alive. Her gaze pierced through the haze of the bar, through the music, through the distance, straight into me. I could feel it in my chest, a heat spreading, sharp and thrilling.

She existed, untouchable and luminous. I was caught in her orbit, helpless.

This is definitely the closure I needed.