A Brother, Our Hero

The three of us, best friends, sitting on the couch, giggling and laughing, stopped in a flash, hearing echoes of sirens, screaming. The front door slams, leaving us guessing. Our brother roars up the engine, exhaust blasting. A flick of the switch, the blue lights are flashing. A mother's cigerette, fell, sparking a fire, fully engulfing, the house where she raised her babies, while smoking. He is our hero, fearless, his love, strong and everlasting. He puts his life on the line, asking for nothing. The fire engine floors it down the street, racing to the fire where those are praying, that the firemen keep their world from collapsing. Without hesitating, without blinking, A fire hose is splashing; on the roof, where it begins giving in, caving. The last survivor is heard whimpering, coughing. One deep breath, our hero enters, walls smoldering. He begins gasping, steadily searching. Cradling the small child, he begins following, the smoke filled fiery path, leading to safety, through the front door, staggering, onto the front porch, begging the child to keep breathing. He is our hero, his face strong and welcoming. The child cries, as his mother, runs, screaming. Her son, her life, is lying, safe in her arms, where her fears are flying, away, with this nightmare, shattering. His lungs filled with smoke, and her guilt growing. The fire has lost, what’s left of the structure, smoking. The firemen retreat, hands still shaking, from the hell that they conquered, volunteering. He is our brother, our hero saving, the lives of others by braving, the flames that continue growing and bellowing. We love him and hug him, the three of us, sitting, On the couch, giggling and laughing. - Maegan Guntz