The Wedding

The First

Fire.

Great scarlett flames. The unbearable heat. I could barely breathe.

"Margot!" I screamed. "Mama, Papa! Where are you?!"

I heard footsteps.

Mama appeared, soot covering her delicate face. "Lissette! Come on, hurry up mon cherie!"

"Mama!" I gasped. "Where's Margot and Papa?"

Mama shook her head. "I don't know. But I'm sure that they are outside already. Come on, mon cherie."

I grabbed Mama's hand and followed her through the hellish maze of heat. All of the paintings that we'd sat for hours were gone.

Destroyed by the flames.

I glanced around. I couldn't see much through the thick smoke, but I knew that our home was already gone, even if the foundation was still standing.

Mama's steps were slowing, her breath becoming even more unsteady. I looked at her foggy outline worriedly. Mama's health was already frail, and I knew that her lungs could give out any moment. She gasped, clutching her chest.

I winced. My throat was closing up. My eyes stung, but I could not make any more tears flow. It seemed that my eyes had dried up completely. Mama bent over, gasping.

Then I heard it.

The slow groaning of wood.

I looked up. The fire had destroyed the ceiling, and a wooden beam was giving way.

Mama straightened up. "Mon cherie, lets-"

She noticed the beam.

"Lissette!"

Everything slowed down.

One moment, I was standing under the beam. The next, I was on the ground, where Mama had been standing. And Mama...

She was pinned under the beam.

"Mama!" I screamed.

I staggered over, tears streaming down my face. The fire roared around us. I couldn't breathe, but I didn't care. I only saw Mama.

Mama's eyes were closed.

I shook her shoulder. "Mama! Mama, wake up! You have to wake up!"

She didn't move.

"Mama! Mama, please!"

No response.

"Mama, wake up! Wake up!"