My eyes focused on a black spot that grew on my ceiling. The circle swelled to the size of an apple. My nose itched. An odor emanated from the ever-growing spot. I knew that smell. It reminded me of a burned candle, but worse. It lingered on my clothes.
Smoke escaped my house. Water sprayed out of the firefighters" hoses. The air became moist and layered my lungs with a hint of burned wood. I choked. My mother rested peacefully on the stretcher. I pulled my blanket up to hide. Cold sweat chilled my rigid body.
“It should have been me,” I muttered while dozing off into an uneasy sleep. A headache woke me up. The whole day was drowned in a gray cloud. I avoided eye contact with everyone. Every time Corin crossed my path, misery bubbled up in me. Perfect, ever-smiling Corin. An angry beast a
