mell stung the eyes and made breathing difficult. People ran, tripping over each other, their faces contorted in fear and desperation. Shouts pierced the air, "Fire! Fire!" echoing through the

ies of children lost in confusion. People scrambled for any source of water-plastic bottles, buckets, even their ha

her chest, hoping that whatever was burning was not consuming the entire market. Chloe ran frantically in the directio

her mother's voice. 'Over here

ou able to se

the warehouse?

was not what Chlo

fell down on her kne

Vina c

'Calm down. Breathe...

as if her lungs were twisting themselves inside,

e calm down

ymore. Let me just die,' she said. 'Why do bad things keep happening to me? Did I

didn't know how to console her, how to ease her pain. For they understo

at the flames for minutes, then st

re you going?

you can't go

hear anyone or see anyone, all that was

ng towards his mother. "She can't

if the flames were calling to

ing of going into the flames, right?" He looked at his mother's face; he c

houted. "Mom!

er's face. Mom, can you see me?" Chl

up. I think sh

to the hos

ter, Chloe op

. My h

you're

t the h

You were conv

e is

are of Ben and Xverna."

ka

ying to commit suicide? Walking towards t

. I wasn't

know that this is hard and it's goi

en to them? If I was not there or if no one

'm sorry," sh

ough this together, okay?

nk y

Theo are here," Ben said. "Mom, why didn'

yesterday,"

is Dad?" Ben

you later, okay?" Theo helped Chloe to her r

ka

day at the d

Is he getting bet

is Dad coming

very soon," C

ou okay?" Vina asked, her voice fill

u for coming to tak

how did the visit

will be a

do you mean,

s what the

ng of amputated, X

omething," Xv

have only one

ad gettin

ught s

no other

mputated, it could

hen is the

decided yet,"

Mom was going th

today," Chloe said, snap

ou going th

hing was saved

re's noth

ean by there's

consumed eve

ngs could hav

ng at this time? I

ve to

om, wait. Why don't I go instead and see if there's any

ou do

y at home whil

thank

g release of the day's crushing weight. Each muffled cry was a lament for the lost market, the looming threat of Moses's surgery, and the fear for her

n up by the sounds of someone

re you

. Go back

nued to cry

eeks l

Are you

s,

for me do

ka

sist me w

ka

we're taking to the ho

y're in t

, let

d Xverna shoute

, how are

re f

ing home? Are you not

ming ve

ur leg will be Am

houted, trying

will be fine even if

k? How are you going to pick u

will come pick you

all

all

are you?"

. And how

fine

your wor

better

oo

rd what happened on the news. How are you co

kay, I'

arms for a hug. Chloe walked to him, her steps hesitant,

done so well in holding on,"

no longer hold it

o cry. Bring

business I was looking up to, to support t

It's going

in. Good mo

w are you?" Moses

How is yo

m f

how ar

fine

e you g

to hug Theo. We ar

fine

and Vina s

k we have to move to the most

looked at Moses. "What do you sa

't have a ch

m's shops are gone and y

e all we have l

done since we can't aff

e to take t

see the doctor. Vina, stay with

wil

orning,

orning,

Eden in h

es

he b

t the

thank

made their way t

ning, Doc

Mrs. Black. It's been

re f

have a

y, how much is it, and how soo

a note, containing all that is needed, and schedul

ka

e, directing them to th

u, Doc,"

prob

el

ow may I

is to give to you

t these are what the patient nee

ka

e a total of

ha

and the treatment after the surgery, like rehabilitation programs, prosthetic f

, this is

settlin

coming back,

talk with Dad. Thi

et's do