It’ll be morning soon. The sun will crawl over the horizon, and I’ll drink in the dawn in shots as I watch the house burn. This sunrise will be the most beautiful I’ve ever witnessed.

            I sigh, heading for the fridge. The kitchen floor is cold, just as the outside air is, and the feeling shoots up through my feet and chills my legs. I shiver, and consider changing from this appearance to another; miniscule clothing of shorts and a wife beater to the warm and welcoming softness of pajamas, or at least jeans and a jacket. I decide against it in the next moment as it pairs with the realization that I won’t need any aid for heat while the foundation goes up in flames.

            The anticipation still causes goosebumps. I’m afraid, and I’m excited. I want to start now, but I want my timing to be perfect. The smoke will swirl in the dark, and the flames will start when the sun begins to rise.

            I realize I’ve been standing in front of the open fridge, making me colder. I sigh, looking over the contents as I mumble to myself. There’s a bottle of vodka tucked into the door, and I grab that before shutting the fridge and padding over to the cluster of cabinets over the sink. I have to stand on the pads of my toes to reach the third shelf, stretching my middle finger out to catch the edge of a shot glass and pull it over the end of the shelf, dropping it into my open palm. I don’t see the point of getting the glass, really; I’m grasping the neck of a bottle of vodka, not tequila. Nonetheless, it’s the vodka I want, and the desire to drink to the flames is too strong.

            The vodka is also too strong.

            It burns pleasantly as it travels down my throat as I take the first shot. I pour myself another, downing it quickly and imagining my esophagus burning, just as the house will. The flames quickly consume my entire throat, then spread to my shoulders, travel down my torso, and burn up my toes. It leaves only my head, which rests atop the pile of smoldering ashes. Atop the pile of smoldering Ashley.