A Terrifying Ordeal

Isabella's eyes struggled to adjust to the sudden light as she sat up in her bed. Around her chaos spread with each passing moment.

"Honey, we have to hurry! The house is on fire!" her mother urged.

Adrenaline and fear coursed through the girl's body when she heard those words. Suddenly her safety and very life faced a great risk.

In another room, the girl's father hurriedly tried to gather some of the family's most valuable possessions. A short distance away, flames claimed more of the house. The incendiary intruders showed no sign of weakening and no regard for what the humans held dear.

"Kyle, come on! We need to leave now!" his wife urged, her voice cracking with emotion.

Stubbornly, he continued to rummage through drawers. He filled his pockets with random trinkets and stuffed documents into a backpack, determined not to abandon anything of great importance.
His breathing grew more and more labored as the air quality deteriorated amid the thickening smoke.

"Isabella is outside. We need to go now!" Rachel said with tears now running down her cheeks. "Please don't make me ask again."

Reluctantly, he zipped his bag shut and threw it over his shoulder, giving one look back as he ran toward the safety awaiting him outside.

Standing in the street surrounded by concerned neighbors, Kyle squeezed his daughter close to his chest. He knew nothing in the world could replace her.

"Are we gonna be ok, Daddy?" the girl asked.
Kyle held her shaking shoulders and looked into her eyes brimming with tears and fear.

"Your mom and I will never let anything bad happen to you," he said. "I know this is scary, but we're ok. We'll get everything fixed. You'll see."

Satisfied with the answer she got, Isabella hugged her father, burying her face in his shoulder.

"Oh, I almost forgot!" Kyle said. He reached into his bag and pulled out an item that caused Isabella's eyes to light up.

"My teddy bear!" she screamed with glee. "Daddy, you saved him!"

Rachel smiled as she watched the two people she loved most bond in this time of such turmoil. While this evening had been jarring, it only strengthened them as a family, and she valued that more than any earthly possession.