The Suicide Of Lincoln Loud

I didn't mean to...

A few months earlier, Lincoln picked up a bad habit. He was always playing with lighters, burning up his things and occasionally scorching his skin.

He was burning some playing cards, bored and angry from what happened at school. He watched the king of diamonds burn, the flames leaping up, kissing the skin on his fingers.

The thing about fire is, its unpredictable. Before he knew what was happening, his curtains were burning. He ran from his room, and time seemed to slow down. In front of the house, Lori called the fire department. The upstairs was collapsing.

So suddenly, just like that, the Louds were homeless.