I was walking down an old dirt path.
Quite forgotten and out of the way,
I thought to myself, "I want to fall in love today."
Being naive, I didn't know what that would mean.

I pushed the feathery leaves from my face and ventured upon an acidic lake.
Poisson bubbled up from the surface and the atmosphere went as hot as a furnace.
I felt the heat tearing at my skin, and I thought the blisters would be my end.

Until, suddenly, an icy cold hand pulled me away from that horrific land.
Eyes, as freezing as the fingertips, searched my pale expression, never wavering.
I felt them surround me, but strangely didn't seem to mind.

"Thank you for saving me," I managed a quivering smile.
The purple-blue lips parted in reply,
"Nothing comes without a cost. Pretty birds that sing, are locked away in iron cages because their songs are so tempting. I ask that you remove your heart and place it in my hold for safekeeping."

Nodding my thanks, I sunk my fingers through my chest to pull my offering of love from my body.
His hands shot out too fast and snatched the most vulnerable belonging I own from my grasp.
Startled, I tried to stuff feelings of loss and sorrow down into the soles of my feet.

"Wont you stay?" I dared ask, but before I could hope for a reply, a frozen wind came and left only emptiness in its wake.