Regret

The man took off his suit, folding it precariously, and then placing it on the wood in the fireplace. He stripped till stark and naked, putting the rest of his articles upon the firewood as well. The blood from his clothes began to drip slowly, with a well-organized cadence, the rhythm matching his unsteady heartbeat. He breathed heavily as he lifted his deep crimson tie in front of his face, fumbling with his lighter. Finally igniting a spark, he pressed it against the tie. The bottom of the tie slowly shifted to black, finally catching fire. The embers steadily consumed the tie, the fiery tongues licking the sides of the cloth. The man tossed the burning fabric on top of the suit, the neophyte flames rapidly plaguing the clothes.

            Taking a deep breath he stared into the growing flames, warmth and color returning to his wan skin. His eyes glazed over with the fresh memories and blood. He remembered more than he wanted to, looked at more than he needed to. He rubbed his bare chest, his heart thumping so hard he’d fear his neighbors would hear. The man realized his hand was smeared with red as if he crushed a handful of raspberries. Taken aback he realized his whole front body was glistening with blood as well. Taking two steps back, he slipped into the bathroom. Purposely avoiding the mirror, he opened the glass door and flung the shower handle to maximum heat. He stepped into the cleansing water.

            The man took the pristine white soap, scrubbing it against his scalded skin. The crusted blood began to chip away, crumbling under the pressure of his harsh scouring. The crimson water cascaded down his flesh, swirling with fervor as it rounded the mouth of the drain like a merry-go-round. Completely cleansed of his outer filth, the man pressed his hands upon the bright yellow tiles, cold and unforgiving. The man accepted the liquid fire, turning his skin raw and red. His blood boiling as much as the water, he thought about what he had done. He hung his head, the water trickling from his nose and lips into the drain. The man was stricken with his actions and grief, no amount of alleviation enough to heal his soul.