Finally Grateful

Chapter 1

August 21

Diary entry #23

After midnight, the noise finally started to subside. I flipped and turned in my bed constantly, but still couldn’t sleep. My baby cousin, Henry, was sleeping in my room too, so it was even harder to sleep. Two nights in a row now, he has woken me up crying. This is the worst family reunion ever. My whole family is here, I can’t wait until they leave.

Of course, again, it’s 3am. I was terrified when I woke up to Henrys bloodcurdling cry. As I rolled off my bed to rock him, I noticed an orange glimmer under the door. I still went over so I could rock him, but I noticed my room looked slightly smokey. My windows were shut and everything else seemed normal. It was a little warmer than usual though. After a moment or so, I just reached down for Henry. He stopped crying but was still wide awake. Was I being paranoid? I could just be sleepy...   

My house is on fire. I'm sure of it now. Thank God Henry woke me up. If he didn’t, I may not have woken up to see the fire. Even though I was in shock, I was still able to manage gently picking up Henry. Then I slowly walked toward the door and felt its temperature. Peeking into the hallway, I found a way downstairs that would be safe for Henry and me. My parents room and the guest room were already in flames. It was too late to save anybody else, I had to leave.

Once I started walking down the stairs, there were creaking, which made Henry screech even more. It was also really hot and smokey, so I had to cover his face. Thank God the front door was at the end of the staircase. I almost didn’t make it out, nobody else did.

I plopped down into the grass and watch my house crackle in flames. I needed to call 911, I needed to comfort Henry, I needed to get help from a neighbor. Yet, I did nothing. I stood there, and cried.

Standing there seemed to be the only thing I could do. Each moldering piece of wood represented the home I live in. Correction, lived* in. How am I supposed to get up and do something when I'm in shock? When a tragedy happens, people go through 5 stages. I'm in the first one, denial, and I'll stay there for all I care. This isn't happening.

"Anne? Anne, my God are you okay?!"  I heard faintly.

My shoulders jerked around and Ms. Slanders, my neighbor, was staring at me. She gently took Henry out of my arms and tried to console me. She told me she already called 911 and that gave me more relief than I thought it would. I also noticed she seemed remotely calm during all this. She knew my family well and she's showing no emotion to them burning in the place which once held holiday parties.

But then more lights came on and people filled the streets. Sirens blaring, more people ran up to me. They tried to tell it isn't safe to be this close to the house, but I couldn't leave. They're comfort didn't help in the slightest and I wanted Henry back. I hated all this attention and still couldn't believe this is happening. I guess everybody goes through a traumatic experience once in their life, so mine was then. But it seemed more than traumatic, it's life changing. Many people go through worse, but I never thought something would happen to me.