Author's Note: This is in response to the Guild of the Fantastic Quill's third Challenge—The Hate Challenge. The prompt words used were "fire (fiery)," "red," and "passion." The link to the Guild's blog can be found under my homepage link on my profile. And AD Spencer has a forum dedicated to the Guild on her profile.

With a Passion

With a fiery red passion—
that's how much I hate you.

My hands quake at your call.
Your voice—laden with tears—whining,
reminds me
of chalk grating on a board.
I snarl, like a feral animal, at your
pleas and
entreaties.
Fiery red—I'm blinded with it.

You aren't even mine to hate.
You never were.
Will never be.

Don't be vain!

I never wanted you.
Except recently—
to do you harm.
Grievous harm.

Why won't you fade?
You stalk like a hungry puppy
follows.
Whining, crying, whining.

You've hurt them.
You've hurt me.
Oh, but you hurt.

You'll never know hurt.
For that, I'm sorry…

…that I can't be the one to cause it.