The Burning Side
A family's home caught fire one night, prompting a frantic escape. April managed to get her baby out, while her husband Leo rescued their daughter from inside. The incident was triggered by an unattended stove after a tense conversation about divorce.
- ▪April escaped the burning house with her baby and a book.
- ▪Leo rescued their daughter Sadie from the flames just in time.
- ▪The fire was caused by an unattended stove after dinner preparations.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
June 10, 2022 The night their house goes up in flames, April stumbles out the front door with her baby in one arm and a book in the other. Otto points his little finger over her shoulder at the house, yelling unintelligible warnings. Leo is still inside, grabbing Sadie from her bed. A fist of dark smoke punches through a window and races out into the sky. At the sound of glass exploding, April glances back. The fire is coming from the kitchen. Her legs carry her away from their home of almost a decade, her lungs eagerly drawing in air. She blows on Otto’s red face as she runs—the heat came fast. Sixty yards down their driveway, she turns around mumbling, “Why aren’t they out yet?” Coughing, she can’t do anything but watch flames pour from the kitchen window.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Literary Hub.
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