On The Run

19

My heart dropped as I ran to the stairs. Heaps of flames surrounded the stairs and I started panicking. I heard yelling from outside and saw the door open. Adam stood there for just a second not knowing what to do. I yelled in between my sobs.

"Adam! I'm upstairs. - Where do I go?" I screamed hoping he could hear me.
My heart started beating fast. I didn't know what to do. Maybe I could jump from the stairs to the other side.
"Throw down the shit and get the fuck out!" He screamed.

I we t down a couple stairs and threw the box down I heard glass shatter, I knew it was the family portrait but other things were important right now. It wasn't such a far drop. Just a few feet. I would be fine. It was an open floor plan so that made things better. I took a deep breath and jumped. A second later I hit the ground. I laid there for just a moment. The smoke from the fire made it hard to breathe. My head started to hurt from all the fire alarms going off. Fire surrounded me. I grabbed the box and ran out the back door. Julia was standing near the pool looking up in terror sobbing. I grabbed my phone and quickly dialed 911 and explained what was going on. Jackson was no where to be seen. Julia and I ran to the other side of the house and Adam was by the car on his knees balling. I immediately saw him press his hands together and start praying.

After Randy died and Julia left they both stopped believing. I went over to him and prayed with him. I knew he needed it. Soon the firefighters and police officers came and the firefighters began to tame the fire with the police started talking to us. Adam told them everything. Julia sobbed and sobbed until she couldn't anymore so she just curled up in a ball and laid silently in the back seat of her car. I didn't know what to do. I thought about going to find Jackson but I knew that was a bad idea. I knew he had just made a mistake he would regret forever. My blood was boiling. Tears steadily ran down Adams cheeks as I held his hand as he talked to the police officers. The fire was almost put out. The structure of the house was halfway down, the sight of the house was unbearable. Everything was so surreal. Lights flashing, sirens blaring, neighbors crowding around, animals barking, it was complete and utter chaos. I felt so badly for them. Adam pulled away from me and opened up the car door.

"Do we have home insurance?" Adam said frantically. Julia didn't respond and this made Adam angry. "Mom!" He screamed. A few seconds later Julia replied with a short and sweet, "no."

Adam slammer the door shut and went back to talking to the police officers. I sighed and opens the car door.

"Get up Julia. Now." I said. She didn't move.
"You want to change? You want to be better? Get your ass up right now and try to help your kid. I know this is your house as well and you're obviously devastated and you think this is all you fault, but suck it up and go out there and talk to them. Adam doesn't know what the hell he's doing! Go help him right now Julia!" I screamed making sure my point was made.

She slowly pulled herself up and got out of the car. She looked to the house and started to break down once again. Adam rushes to her and embraced her tightly.

"It's gonna be okay mom." I heard him say.