She'd rather see me dead than face me.
Chapter 10~Unexpected tragedy.
~Tony’s POV~
I saw Kari arrive at the construction site. What was she doing here? She walked by me and I stepped a bit closer. “Not today.” Was all she said and then she continued to walk in her father’s direction. She handed him something and was gone in a matter of seconds. We continued to work as usual until it was time to clean up. I picked up my things and said bye to Jesus and the others as I climbed into my truck. I drove to my apartment listening and singing along to AFI. I arrived and made myself a quesadilla. I ate it and went to shower. After I showered, I played my guitar. It was the perfect thing to do after coming home tired. The peaceful sound soon made me tired so I headed to my room and jumped in bed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
I woke up in the middle of the night coughing. I turned to look at the clock. It read 2:30 a.m. I was startled when I heard screams and many hurried footsteps in the hallway. I quickly got out of bed and headed towards the door. I looked closely at the bottom of my door before opening it. Smoke. I went into the hallway to see it engulfed in flames. Children and parents ran everywhere trying to find a safe haven. The fire alarm went off and screeched in my ears. “Everyone exit the building now!” yelled the manager at the end of the hallway. I ran back into my room and grabbed a backpack and quickly began to fill it with a few clothes. I ran over to my guitar and grabbed it then ran to the hallway coughing very heavily as the smoke invaded my lungs. I ran down the stairs as I heard police sirens getting closer and closer. I finally found my way outside where everyone who lived in the building was watching their homes turn to ashes along with mine. My eyes became foggy as tears threatened to escape. My home was the only place I could go and now it was being bombarded with water trying to defeat the fire. I looked to my neighbors and saw them holding their frightened children tightly as they cried hysterically. The ambulances began to attend people as the police asked people questions to try to determine the cause of the fire. This went on for about a half an hour before the fire was finally over. The damage was severe. All that was left was rubble where the building once stood. Most the people who lived there had found a place to spend the night and were already gone as only police officers, firefighters, and paramedics remained. I walked away from the scene still in shock as I took a seat on the curb of the sidewalk. I had no one to call. I sat there desperate not knowing what to do. Right when I thought that I was on my own, I remembered a kind friend that I was sure would help me. Jesus. I took out my phone which I had saved from the fire and dialed his number.
It rang a few times before he answered, “Hello?” he asked his voice sounding tired.
“Jesus, it’s me, Tony.” I said a bit too fast.
“Tony, why are you calling me at three in the morning?”
I sighed as my breath became shaky, “I’m sorry it’s just that…” I said trailing trying to stop my voice from cracking.
“It’s just what?”
“I need a place to stay and you’re the only one that I could think to call. My apartment…..it burned down. There is nothing left of it. I don’t know what to do.”
“Don’t worry Tony I’ll be there in a few minutes. You can stay here as long as you need.” He said reassuringly.
“Thank you so much Jesus you don’t know how much I appreciate it.” I said a bit relieved.
“No problem. Just stay put and I’ll see you in a bit.” With that our phone call ended and I sat there waiting and thinking. What was I going to do? Even though I have a job, it’ll probably take a while to raise enough money to get my own place again. And sure, I had some money in the bank but I would need it to replace the rest of my clothes and other important belongings. My thoughts were interrupted when a car pulled up in front of me. It was Jesus. He got out of the car and walked towards me and patted my back. “I’m sorry tone. But don’t worry about anything, I’ll help you.” It surprised me how kind he was, not like Kari-wait. Kari. I had completely forgotten about her since I was too busy worrying about all the hell that had just happened. Jesus grabbed my backpack and guitar from me and placed them in the back seat. I was a bit hesitant to get in the car but at last I did. Forget Kari, I have other things to worry about. The drive to his home seemed to take an eternity as it was filled with nothing but silence and the sound of our breathing. We finally arrived and entered his dark home. He led me to a guest room and said that I could stay there as long as I needed. He said goodnight and left the room. I sighed and walked over to the bed in the center of the room. I climbed in and just laid there. Every time I closed my eyes, all I saw was the sight of my home being destroyed….
I saw Kari arrive at the construction site. What was she doing here? She walked by me and I stepped a bit closer. “Not today.” Was all she said and then she continued to walk in her father’s direction. She handed him something and was gone in a matter of seconds. We continued to work as usual until it was time to clean up. I picked up my things and said bye to Jesus and the others as I climbed into my truck. I drove to my apartment listening and singing along to AFI. I arrived and made myself a quesadilla. I ate it and went to shower. After I showered, I played my guitar. It was the perfect thing to do after coming home tired. The peaceful sound soon made me tired so I headed to my room and jumped in bed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
I woke up in the middle of the night coughing. I turned to look at the clock. It read 2:30 a.m. I was startled when I heard screams and many hurried footsteps in the hallway. I quickly got out of bed and headed towards the door. I looked closely at the bottom of my door before opening it. Smoke. I went into the hallway to see it engulfed in flames. Children and parents ran everywhere trying to find a safe haven. The fire alarm went off and screeched in my ears. “Everyone exit the building now!” yelled the manager at the end of the hallway. I ran back into my room and grabbed a backpack and quickly began to fill it with a few clothes. I ran over to my guitar and grabbed it then ran to the hallway coughing very heavily as the smoke invaded my lungs. I ran down the stairs as I heard police sirens getting closer and closer. I finally found my way outside where everyone who lived in the building was watching their homes turn to ashes along with mine. My eyes became foggy as tears threatened to escape. My home was the only place I could go and now it was being bombarded with water trying to defeat the fire. I looked to my neighbors and saw them holding their frightened children tightly as they cried hysterically. The ambulances began to attend people as the police asked people questions to try to determine the cause of the fire. This went on for about a half an hour before the fire was finally over. The damage was severe. All that was left was rubble where the building once stood. Most the people who lived there had found a place to spend the night and were already gone as only police officers, firefighters, and paramedics remained. I walked away from the scene still in shock as I took a seat on the curb of the sidewalk. I had no one to call. I sat there desperate not knowing what to do. Right when I thought that I was on my own, I remembered a kind friend that I was sure would help me. Jesus. I took out my phone which I had saved from the fire and dialed his number.
It rang a few times before he answered, “Hello?” he asked his voice sounding tired.
“Jesus, it’s me, Tony.” I said a bit too fast.
“Tony, why are you calling me at three in the morning?”
I sighed as my breath became shaky, “I’m sorry it’s just that…” I said trailing trying to stop my voice from cracking.
“It’s just what?”
“I need a place to stay and you’re the only one that I could think to call. My apartment…..it burned down. There is nothing left of it. I don’t know what to do.”
“Don’t worry Tony I’ll be there in a few minutes. You can stay here as long as you need.” He said reassuringly.
“Thank you so much Jesus you don’t know how much I appreciate it.” I said a bit relieved.
“No problem. Just stay put and I’ll see you in a bit.” With that our phone call ended and I sat there waiting and thinking. What was I going to do? Even though I have a job, it’ll probably take a while to raise enough money to get my own place again. And sure, I had some money in the bank but I would need it to replace the rest of my clothes and other important belongings. My thoughts were interrupted when a car pulled up in front of me. It was Jesus. He got out of the car and walked towards me and patted my back. “I’m sorry tone. But don’t worry about anything, I’ll help you.” It surprised me how kind he was, not like Kari-wait. Kari. I had completely forgotten about her since I was too busy worrying about all the hell that had just happened. Jesus grabbed my backpack and guitar from me and placed them in the back seat. I was a bit hesitant to get in the car but at last I did. Forget Kari, I have other things to worry about. The drive to his home seemed to take an eternity as it was filled with nothing but silence and the sound of our breathing. We finally arrived and entered his dark home. He led me to a guest room and said that I could stay there as long as I needed. He said goodnight and left the room. I sighed and walked over to the bed in the center of the room. I climbed in and just laid there. Every time I closed my eyes, all I saw was the sight of my home being destroyed….
8/10/13