In the cold breeze of Georgia’s blue ridge mountains, holds the most memorable fire department that has been there for over 40 years saving others no matter the cost and fighting harsh blazing fires. There was always one fire chief in particular who was praised for his dedication and bravery, the one and only Fire Chief Allen. He had been working as a firefighter for as long as he could remember. One chilly fall evening as the trees regained their intensity of colors. Allen drove his wife Cynthia and his 28-year-old daughter Sage to a luxurious restaurant to celebrate Allen’s high- ranking achievement as a fire chief, when they had gotten there, they are introduced to firefighter Andrew who is close friends with Allen. Allen’s face lit up in smiles “Buddy! Long time no see how you have been?” Stated Allen.

“I’ve been doing pretty well, how about you?” Said Andrew happily. “That is great to hear I have been doing amazing, since I am very blessed to be here tonight with my beautiful wife Cynthia and my daughter Sage.” Said Allen in a confident voice. A little background on Allen’s family Cynthia is a successful bank teller and is full of optimistic hopes for the future for many years to come. She is appreciated by everyone in the community. Now, as for Sage she works for a modeling agency after she had finished college, she has a warm heart for animals and is bubbly. On the other side of the coin, Sage did have a sister named Liberty. Sage described Liberty as a laidback kind of girl but is also a very tenacious hard worker. She was top10 during her senior year for valid Victorian. Last, but not least Fire chief Allen is a loving, caring father who would do anything to protect his family at all costs. Now, back to the scene. All the guests could be heard from a distance with their faint laughter and side conversations as the family joined the crowd, Allen mentions a story that he has told for many centuries. “Ladies and gentlemen sit back and relax as I retell the story from long ago, it all starts at a sturdy brown cabin hidden deep within the mountains me and my family went out for a weekend getaway. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary it was everything I had imagined; I remember how Liberty was so excited to finally find peace in a comfortable zone. That all turned to ashes and burnt wood…”  

Allen paused at the last word before he could say anything at all, then he resumed with the story again. “Sorry, I paused there folks I must have lost my train of thought for a second. Anyway, back with the story it was a foggy morning the temperatures fell between very cold temperatures I asked Sage to look after her sister Liberty, unfortunately, she was not having it as Liberty was getting closer to being a full-grown adult adult. She was so mad at me and said to me.

“Dad you cannot be serious. SHE IS 18 YEARS OLD! WHAT PART OF THAT DON’T YOU UNDERSTAND?” Yelled Sage.

“Do not shout at me young lady, you are under my roof, my rules, and must I remind you she is your sister for crying out loud you need to spend more time with her. I know how much modeling means to you, but you need to put that aside for now. All right?”

Responded Allen in a firm manner.

“You know what dad; you are always trying to deprive ME of my freedom and my dreams. I feel sorry that you ever became a firefighter.”

There was silence from Sage as she stormed up to her room slamming the door. The loud slam caused the wall to vibrate making the pictures fall to the floor harshly, shattering the everlasting memories. How would Sage take back those hurtful words she had said to her father? Or would she regret it at all? Allen was continuing his story. “I

Just could not believe she said those words to me; it shattered me in a million different pieces which would soon be picked up again. I felt this overwhelming guilt to apologize for what I had said the thoughts piled up in my head. But there was no time because the temperatures were below freezing, rushing outside in search for some wood to keep us warm. My phone had rung.

“Hey, Andrew what’s up?” said Allen. “Sir! It is urgent someone report that they saw a restaurant on fire. We need you at the station ASAP.” Andrew’s voice sounded frantic. “Oh no… I will be there in a moment!” Allen had no choice to leave his daughters home as this fire was a life-or-death situation, so he rushed to the scene of the fire. “I know what you all are thinking right now, I am a bad father for leaving my daughters at home during the frigid temperatures. What happened next was a sign I would never forgive myself…” Allen was completely numb once he had brought it up, meanwhile in the past, Sage was in her room practicing model poses she did not think of anything right now. Too busy to even tend to her sister in the other room.

Liberty was reading a book. She had a candle lit to feel the vibe surround her the fan was going at high speeds, when suddenly the breeze from the fan. Blew over the candle onto the curtain. A major spark of flames had appeared. This caught her attention, her legs wanted to flee so bad, but it was like they were frozen “SAGE!! MY ROOM IS ON FIRE!” Screamed Liberty.

 The coughing became so intense as the fire started to spread more; she could hardly catch her breath. “SAGE PLEASE HELP ME! I CAN’T BREATHE; THE DOOR WON’T OPEN!” *coughs* Liberty kept crying out for her sister, it was to no avail the fire had glued the door shut, even the windows would not budge because of the cold. Fire smoke had consumed her lungs resulting in her demise her heart would not beat again not ever. A light from underneath the door lore Sage to check it out, to her surprise the whole hall went up ablaze.

 “NO! LIBERTY! I HAVE TO CALL 911.’’ Sage grabbed the phone as her hands began to shake. “911 what is your emergency?” Stated the operator.

“THE HOUSE IS ON FIRE! AND MY SISTER IS DEAD! PLEASE YOU HAVE TO COME QUICK!”  Sage said in a panicked voice. “We are sending help to you now.” Said the 911 operator. The fire was becoming violent and getting closer to Sage’s room by the minute, she looked for any tool to help break the window. Until something was sparkling in the distance across from the bed.

“Wait is that a key to unlock the window with? It’s the only thing to help me to survive.” 

Responded Sage turning the lock on the window with the key she had found, open sesame! the window opened without a problem. “Now is my chance to escape. 3, 2, 1! jump!” Sage jumped out the window free as a bird, from the blazing fire. “I survived… but my sister is forever gone, mom and dad are going to kill me. All the memories inside this cabin are never coming back….” Said Sage in a sad, but regretful tone.

Just then the fire department was alerted about the fire at the cabin. “Chief we’ve just received another fire call.” Said Andrew.

“What? another fire already? What is the location of this one?” replied Allen. “At the cabin sir, your family’s cabin.” Replied Andrew.

“You cannot be serious right? You’re joking?” Said Allen doubting that the cabin would ever catch on fire. “Sir why would this be a joke? Your daughter is the one that made the call. We must go now.”  Said Andrew. “Oh, my…. No, no. MY DAUGHTERS MIGHT STILL BE IN THE HOUSE!”  Screamed Allen. Every one of the firefighters ran like lightning to the fire truck and sped off to the cabin.

“I can hear my heart almost coming out of chest, the worst was reeling in my head. Were my daughters dead or alive? Or is one of them dead?” Hours passed and the fire truck had reached their destination Allen saw the flames flash before his eyes, the reflection of the orange flames shined onto his face. Shouting in disbelief of how something so horrible could happen in the blink of an eye the firefighters rushed towards the house that fell in ashes and will never be what it once was.

“Okay, y’all know what to do. Grab the water hose, as for you Andrew you are in charge getting my daughters out of the house safely.”  Stated Allen in a referee way.

“Chief I see one of your daughters she is standing where the ambulance is.” Said Andrew. “Thank you for letting me know.” Allen turned his head where he saw Sage, running towards her.

“Sage!” Yelled Allen. “Dad?! you are finally here…” Sage paused after she said her last word. “I missed you girls so much, where is your sister Liberty? Is she okay?” said Allen anxiously waiting for the answer, but Sage stayed quiet. Just then, two firefighters bring out a black body bag sitting it on the ground. Allen was getting even more worried not believing that his daughter is dead. “Is that my daughter!?? Please tell me that is not her!” said Allen.

“Dad… You need to sit somewhere.” Sage tried to defuse the situation only to make things worse. “Sage what happened to your sister?” Allen got suspicious of his own daughter she would try to dodge the question every time he asks her.

“Sir I am so sorry. We lost her… She was killed by smoke inhalation.”  Said the paramedic. “I refuse to believe Liberty my own daughter and Sage’s sister is gone for good, that can’t be….” He was in denial no matter how much the paramedic kept telling him she had died from the smoke. His entire world shambles to the ground, falling on his knees. Begging for this nightmare to end, while sobbing half to death.

 The whole firefighter team gathered around him trying their best to comfort him it was no use. He spent the rest of his life trying to make up for the loss of his daughter.