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Oh, shit

Smoke pours from an upper-storyof the apart over the old wood Sirens wail in the distance, and Natalie is still screa about how the place is on fire, as if I haven’t been able to figure that out now that I’ve seen it with my own damn eyes

Everything I own is in that building

I packed enough clothes for three days when I came here, and I still have my wallet with the picture of me and my brother, thank fuck But every other worldly possession I own is inside that apartht spots in my childhood, medical records, journals and books

Everything

Myto tell where exactly the blaze is coone up yet Maybe if I can get there, I can salvage sos The fire trucks are on their way They’ll help me save it They have to

“I’”

That’s all I say before hanging up on Natalie I’esture doesn’ta bitch, and besides,polite

I stuffthe car key off the hook before darting into the garage Marcus’s car is an autoratitude for that If it wasn’t, I’d be fucked

It’s been a while since I’ve driven, and my heart slams erratically in my chest as I back out of the driveway and turn onto the street I don’t drive as fast as Marcus, but as as I race down the now-familiar route between his place and mine

When I pull up outside, ht knot

The fire has spread I still don’t see any flames in theoflooks like it’s starting to burn Panic floods me, and I shove the car door open The fire department has arrived, and the scene is chaotic as they start to fight back the blaze I don’t see Natalie as I race forward, trying to get closer to the building

“Ma’am, you need to stay back”

A firefighter steps in front ofmy neck to see around him “I know I know I

’o inside I just need to—is there any way to—”