By the time the flames died down, the sky had turned an orange kind of gold. The kind that looked soft but felt like the day was ending with more questions than answers. The burnt clothes lay in the pit, crumbling into nothing. The smell of smoke clung to my skin and hair, and even though I didn’t want to stay out here any longer, I just stood there for a bit.
Watching.
Making sure nothing was left but ashes.
Then I dusted my hands on my shorts and turned back toward the house, shoulders heavier than they should’ve been.
Once inside, I dragged myself up the stairs, step after step, like they were fighting me back, until I reached the comfort of my room.
I sat down on my bed, pulled my phone from where I’d left it charging earlier, and stared at the screen for a second. There were n
