Nowhere did I feel farther from home than when I entered the Parva Hotel. It had been a long day of legal talk, and despite my longing for the day to end, I had just arrived at my hotel reservation.
The day was already full of traveling through several towns to meet my wife so we could discuss the divorce proceedings. Our separation was a few years ago, but we finally mustered the courage to resolve things legally. There was a reputable attorney’s office near my wife, so I decided to be the one who traveled. While the intention felt admirable, it did little to relieve the feeling of guilt.
The day was ending with a fading swirl of orange in the sky. A bead of sweat came down as I entered the hotel.
A clean red carpet and some polished furniture filled the lobby. Many lights hung from the ceiling, enlivening the atmosphere. The lights made the lobby feel indistinguishable from a scorching summer day.
“How may I help you?” the front desk attendant asked cheerfully.
“I’m checking in. The reservation is under Blackwell.”
“I see.”
I sensed a drop in energy from her. Did I do that in just three seconds?
“Your room is 302,” she said in a deadpan manner. “Elevators are on the right.”
I took the key and swiftly stepped away. A sense of regret began to form as I walked to the elevators. When I reached the third floor, I rushed to my room and locked myself inside.
From the smooth silk sheets on the bed to the latest television set, everything was of the highest standard. Even the view from the window was impeccable, offering a stunning sight of the city’s soaring buildings blending into the sky.
I leaned out of the window to get a better view. The city lights were pleasant, but I much preferred the tranquil blanket of black that was the night now. The light breeze also soothed me, blowing the stress off my skin.
Despite the rough day, the night still showed promise. There was still hope that I could enjoy the night, and I intended to keep it that way.
Searching in my suitcase for my pajamas, I felt something I could not recognize. Clamping my hand and pulling it out, I discovered that it was the folder from the attorney appointment from earlier today.
The attached paperclip threw me off. I did not recall using a paperclip, so I flipped the folder around to see what was attached.
With a shiver down my spine, I recognized what it was immediately.
It was a picture of someone I knew, whom I truly hoped I would never see again.
Also, there was no doubt about who added it to my folder when I was not looking. It must have been some sort of cruel prank from my wife during our appointment earlier today. I was not surprised; my ex-wife loved to bring her up when she had the chance.
There was no need to let this ruin my night. I was on a mission for relaxation. That is what I thought as I flung the folder without hesitation, and it unintentionally struck the room thermostat. A strange buzzing sound came from it. Already tired, I decided to deal with it in the morning.
Ready to sleep, I climbed onto the bed to lie down.
I finally felt cozy. However, this sensation would not last as I started to toss and turn. Punching my pillow and setting aside the sheets were just a few of the things I tried to solve my problem.
The room was too warm and was only getting warmer. While the hotel was toasty when I first entered, it had become an unavoidable irritation.
I opened the window, but even that was fruitless.
My feet dragged as I made my way to the thermostat. To my surprise, it was already at sixty-five degrees. Despite my best efforts, I could not change the settings.
Knowing my luck, I probably broke the thermostat when I launched my folder at it. As unlikely as it seemed, this was the story I planned to share to get it fixed. I was ready to do anything for my comfort.
I dialed the number for the front desk on the room’s phone, but it was completely silent on my end. It did not surprise me that a hotel with faulty thermostats would also have broken phones.
I left my room and trudged back to the elevator.
Would I see the front desk lady again? I dreaded the idea of seeing her again. There was already one awkward exchange; I needed to avoid another.
Entering the lobby, I noticed how dead it was. Not a soul was here. I found the front desk abandoned as well.
The heat I felt when I first entered had risen. Drips of sweat blurred my vision as I looked around to find anyone who could help.
If I had any energy left in my body, I would have tried to run, but the heat made it feel like I had an intense fever. My feet could barely scrape across the carpet as I moved.
Every hallway and corner was empty. Realizing that I was the only person in the hotel made my knees tremble until I was on the floor.
I tried crawling back to the lobby from the hallway. The heat turned the entire place into an inferno. I hoped to pass out just to escape this madness.
My eyes were about to close as I waited for the end, but what I saw gave me enough adrenaline to jump on my two feet again.
Charging down the hallway was an inferno like a bullet from a gun’s barrel. It crawled over the floor, ceiling, and walls. The heat was excruciating and covered my entire body.
Around me was a hurricane of fire, and I was at the center of the storm.
The fire completely encompassed my sight. I spun around, looking for a path to escape, but there was no chance at freedom.
A fear ran through my body that could only be described as powerful as the heat on me. Would I be stuck in this inferno forever? Was this my afterlife?
The more I looked around, the more I lost my sense of direction. I had no clue where I was anymore. I only knew that the fire surrounded me.
Flames pierced through every morsel of my body. As if a hundred needles struck with every movement. I was so tender that I swore I could feel my molecular movement.
Bright reds, oranges, and yellows blended into each other as everything spun together.
Within the insanity, I thought I could make something out. There was something I could understand.
I stared into the flames and concentrated as much as I could.
Despite what I thought possible, I stared into a face within the fire.
Everywhere I looked, I could make out the features of a person from the flames.
The same person from the picture on my folder. Someone I knew. Someone I spent a lot of time with. Someone I shared forbidden love with. The one I thought was the reason for my divorce. The mental anguish of the conflicting emotions was becoming greater than the surrounding fire.
As I felt my consciousness fading, I realized that this could be my last moment alive. My last chance to say what was on my mind. I took a deep breath and used the last of my energy to muster my words.
“Meeting you tore my marriage apart. I ruined my mental state when I left you. Whether alive or dead, I need to leave the hell we created.”
And with those final words, my sight faded to darkness.
I awoke in my hotel bed, drenched in sweat. Without another thought, I gathered my items and ran out of my room. I did not take a second to see if anyone else was in the hotel with me.
As I left the hotel and entered the night of the city, I turned back. I no longer felt the heat from the hotel. It was a sense of tranquility that I had not felt in a long time. Perhaps the next place I would stay at, wherever that may be, could be enjoyable.
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