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A Letter to the Firestarter

Burn

By Donny FoleyPublished 3 days ago 2 min read
Top Story - January 2026

Dear Firestarter,

We can all see you, we've been watching you since you began. In case you didn't know we were here before you and we will be here after. We witnessed your rise, your setbacks, your guilt and your lies. We witnessed you start the fire.

We see you sitting on your high horse, enjoying the warm breeze and pretending the smoke won't reach you eventually. For those of us on the ground, choking on the same smoke you pretend isn't there, life is different. You paint your halls with gilded fabrications and you ensure the windows are shut so you don't have to know what its like in the heat.

Since we have watched you we know your tendencies. We know you are more than willing to burn the world down around you for those 15 minutes of comfort you receive at the expense of burnt throats and blackened lungs. We know it's a facade, propped up with fallacies and foolishness, bred through your own self-centeredness. You preyed upon the self-centeredness of others as well, convincing them that it's okay if they burn as long as those you tell them to hate are burned alongside them.

The thing about fire is that it can be started easily enough. Sure, there needs to be certain preparations made in order to cultivate the ideal conditions to ensure a long life of a blaze. But what you, and countless others before you, have always failed to realize is that no matter how perfect the conditions you set, once the fire begins you cannot stop it.

Fire, after all, is the one thing in this life, aside from death, that is all-consuming. You believe yourself safe from it in your opaque glass house. However, once the fire is out there, and once it spreads, there are only two options for those who experience it; control it for their own devices, or be burned through, leaving those burned with nothing to lose.

You're already losing control, burning the beliefs those followers of yours held dear. Tell me, Firestarter, when the buffer you put between yourself and the flames is gone... what's your plan?

There is no out for you, there is no peace, there is no forgiveness, there will only be you, naked, clothes long since turned to ash from the same flames you called child. You and those who are now using the fire. You and those who were burned through and have nothing more to lose.

When you set the world alight you will find the world will fight back.

There is no escape for you Firestarter, there will only be a burned field stained with the blood of the victims you created. That field will be the only requiem to your existence.

Do not cry Firestarter, this is what you wanted, the tears will evaporate before they ever fall from your face.

Enjoy the warm breeze while you can, I am certain it was worth it.

Signed,

The World That is Your Enemy

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About the Creator

Donny Foley

Sci-fi/Fantasy is my jam but I'll write just about anything

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Comments (11)

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  • Andrea Corwin about 13 hours ago

    Congrats on top story.🎉🎉 there are many situations and people that we, as readers, might think this is about. Good job. First it seems it’s about an arsonist, but as you read on, there’s way more depth to it than just that.

  • Kay Husnicka day ago

    I'm so glad this was picked as a Top Story. This is a great take on things, Donny.

  • congratulations on TS. I can clearly see how this would apply to some I know and others I hardly know but in either case, their actions always end with karma. This is very well done.

  • So powerful 😍

  • Nikita Collin2 days ago

    Great job on this story, it was really engaging and well done.

  • Kera Hollow2 days ago

    I wish Vocal had a highlight function because, as I was reading, there were many lines that jumped out and felt so visceral. Congratulations on your top story!

  • A very very powerful and dark writing! It feels like the unconscious rising in anger and blame… not realising that they are staring into their own reflection. Well done ☀️❤️ A well deserved top story

  • Aarsh Malik2 days ago

    A brutal reminder that consequences don’t negotiate. They arrive.

  • Laura Lann2 days ago

    This is the grim hope I needed in these times. Congratulations on a well earned top story 👏

  • Congrats Top Story

  • Evil ones will destroy everything so they can rule the ashes, excellent words

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