Page 13 of Set My Soul Ablaze

“Flame! The house is clear for a walk-through,” Captain called over to me.

“Let me grab the flashlights off the truck, and we can head inside,” I offered.

She nodded. “Sounds good.”

Within a few moments, I had two large flashlights in my hand. After I held one out for her to take, she looked up at me with pleading eyes. Under the light from the streetlamps and fire truck, her eyes twinkled.

“I know this might be weird, but can you hold my hand?” she asked softly.

Pride filled me as I processed her request. She wanted me to be her anchor as she walked through the results of the chaotic fire. Despite being strangers, she trusted me at the moment to provide security for her.

“Of course.” I held out my ungloved hand for her to hold. Cautiously, she wrapped her small hand over my larger one and took a deep breath. Her hand was cold against my palm. I instinctively rubbed my thumb across her knuckles. She visibly relaxed.

“Ready?” I asked.

“Ready.”

Pictures melted on the wall.Glass shattered. Furniture discolored and unrecognizable. With each step I took, my heart ached in my chest. My nose ran slightly from the intensity of the burn smell permeating through the air.

Memorabilia destroyed.

Clothes burned.

Electronics melted.

“This was a bad idea,” I croaked out as I coughed to mask the sob inching up my throat.

Flame’s large thumb massaged my knuckles soothingly. I almost expected his hands to be rough, but they were gentle and firm. He stopped me in my tracks. “Take a moment, Mali. It’s a lot to process, but focus on a primary goal.”

Under the dim lighting, I nodded. “O-okay.”

“What’s your primary goal for tonight?” he asked gently. His light brown eyes pierced my soul. His gaze was intense but comforting at the same time.

“Find my phone. Maybe see if any of my clothes are salvageable so I can change out of this robe.” I shyly tugged at the rope to the robe I tossed on when the fire woke me up.

As I thought about it, the smoke detectors never went off, and I just had the batteries changed not too long ago. Although the stereotypes about Black folks and their smoke detector batteries were true, my father didn’t play about my safety and routinely came to inspect my home. I made a mental note to inform the insurance company that someone tampered with the detectors, when I submitted the formal claim.

“Let’s check your bedroom. If you’re not comfortable with me going in there, I’ll stay in the hallway.” Flame said all the right things. He was kind, considerate, and sweet.

“I’d appreciate that a lot, actually.”

We walked hand in hand up the stairs and down the hall. My eyes remained forward to avoid looking at any more damage. When we got to my bedroom door, I stepped inside and clutched my chest as Flame waited at the door. It surprised me most of the furniture was still intact. I went over to the bed and lifted my pillow.

“Found it,” I whispered as I grabbed my phone. I opened the nightstand, and my wallet and keys were also free of any damage.

“Thank you, God. You really looked out for me.” I grabbed the items before I turned on my heels and cautiously walked over to the closet. I felt foolish as hell walking through ashes in bear paw slippers, but luckily, a bin of clothes and shoes was intact.

“Flame!” I called out.

“Yeah?”

“Can you grab this bin for me? It’s kind of heavy, but it looks like the only bin in good condition to take to my parents’ house.”

“I got you. Do you want me to come in now or wait for you to change?” he quizzed.

“Honestly, I’ll wait to change until I’m at my parents’ house. I want to wash all this soot and shit off my body before I put on clean clothes.”

“Understood.” He walked into the room and found me near the closet. He effortlessly lifted the bin. “Do you need anything else?”