Flare of hope

My eyes slipped closed the instant he told me to, and I understood why only seconds later, when a sudden blaze of light poured into the room.

The brilliance forced its way past my lids, pressing against the darkness I had willingly given myself to. A small gasp escaped my lips, though I swallowed it back quickly. Slowly, cautiously, I let my lashes part, still acutely aware of Simon’s breath spilling warm against the shell of my ear.

And then my mouth fell open in awe.

Above me hung a chandelier—no, a masterpiece. It dominated the high ceiling, suspended like some divine offering, magnificent in its sheer size and intricate design.

The fixture branched out in shimmering gold, curling like a living thing, every twist of its body cradling blooms of flawless crystal. Dozens—no, hundreds—of these crystal flowers shimmered in the golden arms, each one connected to its branch by delicate twigs that gleamed with the same enchanting hue.

The entire chandelier was like an inverted flower i