The flames weren't the only thing that engulfed him, for regret eats one's soul till no more, and like a fish caught in the net, it was clearly over for him.

It was the regret of you. You who he trusted, only to run away. You who he hasn't seen in years. Till now that is, seated in front of him on one of the hospital chairs, talking about a topic he could care less about.

The sound of your voice sickening to hear, even more than those awful substances they supply him for nutrition.

At first, it was the initial shock, that rendered him speechless, with only his heartbeats elevating, but now, he didn't want to bother.

He is not that kid anymore, and living out of spite fueled him long enough, so instead he ignored you. He tried to. He needed to.

Why?

Because you betrayed him of course. You left him when he needed you the most. When he was at his lowest, that at times he wonders if it would've been different if you were there.

Maybe it was him being too engulfed in his own misery to realise how life likes to toy around with others, just like it did with him, and maybe you too had a compelling reason to cut all contact with him, only returning back when he looked lesser than he did, while getting worse as time went on.

"When will you leave?" Voice dry, raspy and cold, but clearer than a summer night sky. He was unreadable, literally, so it was up to you to figure it out.