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“Run!” The woman shouted, dodging burn debris cascading from above. Large chunks of burning wood littered the floor, small bits stuck to their clothing, burning holes through, until they were pushed off by the thick smoky air. The walls were now crumbling, making it even more dangerous to stay. As they neared a doorway, the woman saw the fragile lintel hanging on. She grabbed the child and held her close, ignoring her squeals of pain, and ran faster through the burning door frame. As they passed through, the lintel broke off, and surged to the floor, carried down faster by it's heavy weight. They both hit the floor.

*

“Mummy?” Adesi cried out, “wake up mummy!” She shook her, but to no avail. She bent down and kissed her bloody head, then ran on. Her vision blurred and many times she fell, disorientated by everything, except her will to escape. Reaching the front door, she found it stuck and the handle burnt her hands; she ran to the windows, but found them broken, and she was too small to climb out of them. She was trapped, alone in a burning house.

In an almighty surge, the front door swung open “Adesi?! Adesi, where are you?”

Adesi's eyes widened and she ran back to the door. Before she could grab hold of him he held her arms and shouted “where is mummy Adesi?”

“Back in there,” she said, barely audible above the roaring flames.

“Get outside, i will be back with mummy.” And he ran deeper into the inferno.

She ran outside and was glad to be breathing in the cold air. Only making it to the small hill, she collapsed in a coughing fit. She lay now, watched over by the stars, and waited for her father to get out, with her mother.

*

The sun peeked over the hill carefully, and gently bathed the land in warmth. Adesi stirred, and as she sat up sleepily, she wondered why she was laying on grass. The realisation hit her hard. “Mummy? Daddy?” She called out frantically. She leapt up, but fell back down, her legs could barely support her. Looking around she could see nobody, and down the small hill lay the charred remains of her house. Sliding down the hill, she slowly made her way towards the house; it loomed over her, making her feel even more smaller than she was.

Cautiously she entered, careful not to touch anything that might still be burning inside. The ceiling had now disappeared, the bright red roof tiles now brown, scattered the floor like daisies in a field. Everything had been burnt away, and she couldn't see anything that had survived. I hope they got out... I'm sure Daddy just got out the back door... And now he is waiting for me! She ran towards the back door, now hopeful; it was open, and swung back and forth from a harsh breeze that tried forcing her away.