Well, not necessarily death, it's more like a testament to bravery, personal growth, and therapy.

At first glance, fire is just something very accessible and convenient in our everyday life. But diving deeper into its essence, it's quite magical.

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Fire, in itself, is a force of destruction. Fire engulfed buildings, sending it all tumbling down in a pile of ashen rubbles. Fire scorches flesh, leaving charred remains screaming in eternal pain. 

 

Fire, on the other hand, is a force of creation. Warm breakfast was cooked on controlled flames, and a roaring hearth warms us in dark, wintery nights. Fire lights our path when the sun goes down, and strikes fear into the hearts of creatures of the night.

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Fire is alive, it is beautiful, it is lethal, it is… alluring.

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Such is the conclusion I got after joining the CCU Fire Dance Club.

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I remember the time when I was mortally terrified of open flames. The heat from fires and the suffocating fumes sent me reeling, so I always kept my distance. That was before the time I signed up for the club’s performance of effort last year. It was the first time I ever had something burning with freak flames so close to my body, and to be honest, I was absolutely terrified. I remember being assigned to one of the props that was considered to be more advanced. It was a pair of shorter sticks that was to be ignited at both ends and dual-wielded. Feeling the flames lick at my skin and the blistering heat threatening to engulf me, it took all my self-control to not bolt and drop the props. If you think this sounds disastrous, it is. What changed? Well, a senior in the club openly pointed out my fear in front of everyone during the final preparation, which, to me, is quite embarrassing, and made me want to change it. After terrifying training and self preparations, I did it, and the results were quite satisfying for me.