The water was rising. I could feel it creeping up the hem of my jeans. I knew it would only be a matter of minutes before the Buffalo Bayou overtook our second-story apartment, and, essentially, my younger siblings and me. Their screams melded in my brain with the screams of our neighbors and panic tightened my chest until I couldn’t breathe. Dad should be here. Our safety was his responsibility. Why wasn’t he here?! Had it only been a mere 48 hours since I’d bowed up at him and demanded that he recognize my maturity? Why had I pushed so hard to be left in charge while he was out of town on business? “Stupid, stupid girl!” I shouted at myself, my voice disappearing with the roaring waters outside of my window. Fourteen was too young to be left alone with siblings for days. Too young to face Hurricane Harvey alone. Too young not to have access to my daddy. Too young to have to save my brothers from drowning. I can’t do this. I can’t do this! The words were on repeat in my head. My face crumpled as tears poured from my red eyes.

“Asya!”

The terrified screams of my five-year-old brother met my ears and my eyes locked on his as I realized the water was nearing his waist. Where was Tanner? I grasped Landon’s wrist tight in my fingers and pulled him with me as I screamed for the three-year-old. “Tanner! Tanner, I’m coming! Sissy’s coming, baby! Hold on!” I choked on my sobs. It was becoming increasingly harder to trudge through the water, and Landon wasn’t helping. I hauled him up to my waist, nearly tripping over some invisible piece of furniture hidden beneath the flood. “Tanner!” I screamed, catching sight of him just inside his bedroom door.

“Asya, water. See?” My fearless little brother, the baby of us all, splashed his hand at the water nearing his chest.

I scooped him up and pulled them both tight into my chest, fighting the terror in my soul. “Daddy,” I whimpered as I searched my options. My eyes fell on the front door and I fought my way toward it. Landon screamed when he slipped as I fumbled for the doorknob. “Shh,” I attempted to console him as I grasped the knob and yanked hard against the force of the water. I screamed as we were shoved into the hallway, and I wondered if I’d made the right choice. Up ahead, I watched as Mr. Jenkins pulled his wife toward the fire escape and I decided to follow suit.

“Daddy! Daddy! I want Daddy!” Landon shrieked in my ear. “Asya, get Daddy!”

“Hush, Landon,” I cried, not wanting him to know just how desperate I was for Daddy, too. “Hang on tight. Tanner, stop wiggling!” I stared at the fire escape and wondered if I had the strength to get us all the way there. Putting the boys down was no longer an option. The water had already reached my waist, and showed no signs of slowing down. I had no choice. I had to make it. My little brothers depended on me to get them out of here.

“Come on, girl!” Mr. Jenkins had made it to the fire escape and was waving me to him. His face fell as he watched my grip slip on Landon. Helping his wife out the window, he turned and swam toward me. “Don’t let go of him! Don’t let go!”

“Help!” I screamed through past the panic in my throat. “I’m losing him!” I clasped Landon tighter, crying from the pain in my fingernails as they bent backward. As Mr. Jenkins neared, I shoved my screaming brother as hard as I could, thanking God when the man caught him and gripped my wrist, pulling me forward.

The current was increasing, but Mr. Jenkins pushed forward with a strength only God could provide. His left hand stretched out and grasped the windowsill and pulled us to the window. “Climb!” He shouted, as Landon fought to cling to him.

“Landon, climb!” I screamed. As he obeyed, I felt Tanner being pulled from my grasp as Mr. Jenkins hoisted him through the window and reached for me. “Thank you,” I cried as I was lifted to my temporary safety. His smiling eyes were the last thing I saw as I began my ascent to the roof in hopes that someone would be our new savior.