My heart pounds distinctively like far off drums. My breath gets slowly gets heavier and heavier. I hear someone scream in the distance. A woman I think. I run faster than I ever thought possible through the blazing hot and orange flames. They consume my neighborhood casting flickering, dancing shadows on the streets and buildings. I fly past all of my childhood memories. The park where Mom always pushed me on the swings and caught me at the bottom of the slide. My best friend Bailey’s house where we used to spend hours creating unique recipes we would serve to her stuffed animals. The ice cream shop where my older brother James would take me every Thursday afternoon to get our order, double scoop, one triple chocolate and the other fudge brownie. These were all years ago though. And all of them are dead. I run past each house, each bringing a memory that aches more than the last. I run until my legs can’t carry me anymore. Right before I collapse I see a slight glimpse of two people in scrubs running towards me. And then I black out.

When I finally come to, I wake up in a room with blinding lights. When I stop blinking, I realize I’m in a hospital. I look around and I hear the beeping machines and see the colorful cards and little presents. I can’t muster the strength to go look at them. I fade back out until I’m asleep. When I wake up again, I try and remember what happens. I was sitting at the dinner table with my family having our weekly Pasta night. And then, we all felt a sudden wave of heat smother us.

“What’s that?” My Dad asks standing up and fanning himself with his shirt.

And that’s when the fire envelops our house. My mom starts screaming and James grabs my baby sister Birdie from her high chair. We all make a dash for the door, an unsaid agreement to run to our grandparents house. On the way, James trips, taking Birdie down with him. There’s a lot of screaming (plants from me) and my parents both stop to hell them. That’s when the burning fingers of the fire grab my entire family, never to return then to life. Before they die I hear my mom yell “GO CHARLIE! Run as far as you can!” After a risky hesitation I bolt to the only place I can think to go, Bailey’s house. Once I get there I see the falling house, someone scream her name and I know she’s gone. Numb with heartache I sprint as far as I can go. They’re dead. All of them. They’re never coming back. I’m all alone.

After weeping for my family for the longest time, I realize everything hurts. I look at my skin and see that I am covered in burns. The doctor comes in and tells me it’s a miracle I’m alive. I was burned terribly and everybody I know is known to be dead.

“I know this is hard. But it’s going to be ok. Everything will work out just fine sweet girl.”

I go to sleep and when I wake up there is someone standing in my doorway. When my eyes focus I see the hunched over figure, clutching onto a cane.

“Grandma?” I gasp, tears coming to my eyes. “It’s me honey.” She says crossing to me and laying with me stroking my hair, murmuring that everything will be alright.

And for the first time since the accident I feel a tiny blossom of hope inside of me.