Cherry Candle

      Dustin used to laugh and say my ex-boyfriend Billy was a shapeshifter. The joke fit him a little bit too well. Billy was, indeed, quite strange in the way he said things. He used to tell me he loved me, only for me to see him with another guy later. And then that guy told me the person I knew never existed. It should have been a coincidence, I thought. But it wasn’t. Billy was hiding from me like a little kid. And the day I figured out his chameleon nature, he broke up with me, leaving me bitter and confused. “Fuck that guy,” Dustin said, patting my shoulder. He was a true friend. After grieving the love I never really had, I met Eddie. Eddie was everything I’d dreamed of. He was funny, a bit sassy, and very loving. He played his guitar for me and showed me all his D&D miniatures. We held hands. Though, we never kissed. Unlike Billy, he didn’t like to rush things.       It was the first week of November, after Halloween. The crispy leaves were carried away by a drafty wind; old crows filled the streets with a flurry of their creaky voices. Then, complete silence. Even the wind stopped playing outside. I remember stocking my fridge with groceries for dinner that day. I’d asked Eddie to come over for a date at my house. My parents were out of town, so everything seemed to fall into place perfectly, like the last piece of a puzzle. I turned on my cassette deck, and the song Everybody Wants to Rule the World by Tears for Fears started playing. Danced into the kitchen, I washed my hands with lavender soap and warm water. And as the chicken soaked in its marinade, I chopped four potatoes into neat cubes, accidentally dropping one onto the floor. Not a big loss. Then came the cheese. Being a devoted cheese lover, I picked a few different kinds – Parmesan, cheddar and smoked Gouda. Cooking had always been my passion, a hidden talent even. I mixed potatoes with a creamy sauce, added herbs and melted butter; their scent tenderly filled the air. Amazing. In anticipation of the date, my mood was soaring. After the chicken, my cheesy casserole was ready for the preheated oven. By then, the kitchen was already warm, and I was having so much fun. I opened the window to let in some fresh air, and a chilly autumn breeze nipped at my nose. I took a deep breath. A bird flew by in the distance. Smiling at the thought of the movie evening with Eddie ahead, I poured myself a cautious sip of my parents’ red wine. I hoped they wouldn’t notice later. And for dessert, I’d picked up chocolate chip ice cream – Munson’s favorite. I just couldn’t wait to see his sweet face. I dialed Eddie’s number to make sure he was coming in time. Then I realized I needed some candles to set the mood for dinner. Rushing to my room, I found only one – the candle Billy had given me for my birthday back when we were together. It was a big burgundy candle in a jar, with a giddy cherry scent. That’ll do, I said to myself, pulling the lighter out of the pocket of my jeans. Everything was ready. I started getting nervous, waiting for Eddie to arrive. The doorbell rang. I jumped up from the sofa as if scalded and opened the door. He was there, standing in front of me in his cool denim jacket and black bandana. I loved how his long, curly brown hair fell over his shoulders. Eddie gave me his adorable smile and pulled me into a soft hug. I melted like the butter I’d been preparing for dinner. We went into the kitchen, the candle was already burning, and flavorful casserole was laid out on plates with the chicken on the side. Eddie and I sat down to eat. “This is so good!” he exclaimed after his first bite. I felt a quiet wave of pride. As we enjoyed the food, the kitchen light began to flicker until it went out completely. There was darkness, and a part of Eddie’s face lit by the candle’s strong glow. “Oh, I’m so sorry,” I said quickly. This sudden shift was pretty unsettling. “It’s okay,” Eddie replied without hesitation. “That’s even better, don’t you think?” I nodded silently, assuming he could see my face too. We went on talking. We talked about music and our favorite movies, joked about the strange little things that always made us laugh. I started to relax. Eddie’s voice was quite low and calming, like a lullaby. The candlelight trembled slightly each time he gestured, and also each time I laughed, trying not to blow it out. At one point, I noticed something rather odd – Eddie’s eyes looked darker than usual. Not brown, but almost black. I blinked, and everything seemed normal again. Just nerves. And then – puff. The candle went out on its own. I tensed up. “It’s okay, I’ll light it again,” I told Eddie, reaching for my lighter. A cold breeze blew behind my back. I couldn’t remember if I’d closed the window. I lit up the cherry candle once more, and Eddie smiled at me, forgiving the minor inconvenience. We moved on to dessert. I tried to turn on the light, but no matter how many times I flipped the switch, it wouldn't come on. Then I turned around, noticing that the candlelight had gone out again. “Eddie?” No response. I couldn’t sense his presence in the room. The kitchen curtains began to fly up like a ship’s sails. Then came a sudden sound, it made me flinch. I needed to see. I took my lighter and stepped toward the candle, calling Eddie’s name over and over, hoping he would answer and reveal his stupid joke. My hands were trembling as I tried to relight the candle. Out of nervousness, I dropped the lighter inside the jar. A sharp gurgle rose from melted wax. But the wax was suspiciously thick and chill. A strange smell hit my nose after I pulled the lighter out. My blood ran cold. It wasn’t wax. “I got you, Steve,” the voice giggled. The person in the room wasn’t Eddie. Dustin had been right all along.