The fire took everything from me.

First I saw it burn mama.

Her eyes slowly melting from their sockets.

And her mouth was a gate with incinerated flesh.

And her arm reached out.

I tried to save me.

Only the roar of the flame was kept her screams from reaching my ears.

Just that sight alone was enough to traumatize me.

It was only the beginning.

I'll never forget the way the floor collapsed.

My body fell three floors due splintered rafters in heat.

Slamming at the ground at the force of a freight train and then the debris smashing on top of my frail body.

It wasn't any act of God that saved me.

It was my own father.

Moments earlier he had somehow managed to drag my older brother from the blaze.

And now he risked his life and limb to free myself and mama.

I'll never know how he found me and it scorched them but somehow,

with the strength of a dozen men he lifted the beam off my frail body and told me to run.

I hesitated, frightened of the infernal around me, and that I would lose him too and then his voice became authoritative and loud.

Take care of your brother, you demand.

Tears welled up in my bruised eyes as I limped toward safety, my battered body, barely crawling out of the house continued to fall in on itself.

My brother and I clung to each other for hours as EMTs took us to be treated.

...