The strong scent of smoke was in the air.

Neighbors were screaming, shouting, and

crying. Firefighters were sprinting toward

the house irrupting in flames.

I sat on the hood of the old pickup truck,

crying. Thinking: "What have I done?

Was this my fault? Why did this happen?

What have I done?"

Firemen were hosing the broken glass

window with water. People were standing

around staring at the old house. I was alone.

No one was there. I was all by myself on the

hood of that pickup truck.

Seeing the lifeless body on the floor near the

table, as a child I wept until I couldn't weep

anymore. It hurt to think about for years,

but now it's time to face the truth.

He's gone and never coming back...