“You stole Olivia’s life to extend your own!”
Enraged, he punched my temple. Darkness
swallowed me.
He then slit his wrists, collapsing beside
Olivia’s photo, dead.
In that moment, I understood: he’d never
forgotten her.
Dad’s voice snapped me back.
“Sarah! Sarah! Help!”
Mom coughed up blood. Dad panicked.
I wet a towel, wiping the blood from Mom’s
face and chest. I fanned her, trying to clear
the smoke.
I rushed back to the phone, pulled up a floor
<
the smoke.
I rushed back to the phone, pulled up a floor plan of our building, and clearly explained the best access routes for the fire trucks and the most effective rescue strategy.
“Everyone, starting now, 10:03 PM, the first 100 people to call 911 about the fire at my address, with proof of the call, will get $1000!”
“Thank you!”
I posted the floor plan and rescue plan online.
Money talks. And I needed this to go viral.
“$1000?! Generous!”
“Let me test this out for everyone!”
“I called, sent the recording! Pay up!”
My inbox exploded. The livestream hit 100k
viewers, trending #1.
We were going to be saved.
Then, a comment: “Guys, check out this other
livestream! They’re calling it a hoax!”
<
Kevin. He wouldn’t just leave us to die, he’d
actively sabotage our rescue. And Jake was
behind it.
A live stream request popped up. It was
Kevin.
“Hey everyone, I’m Kevin from the fire
department. Here’s my ID. I’m here to prove
this crazy woman is lying, trying to get
famous.”
“I’m calling her husband now.”
He put the call on speaker. Jake’s voice filled
the air.
“Kevin, I told you not to call unless it’s
important.”
“Jake, your wife’s saying your apartment’s on
fire. She’s livestreaming it. Is your place
actually on fire?”
“Ignore her. She’s insane. There’s no fire. And
even if there was, letting them die on camera
would be their fifteen minutes of fame.”
<
would be their fifteen minutes of fame.”
“Olivia’s birthday’s today, I need to be with
her. Gotta go.”
He hung up.
Dad, hearing his beloved son–in–law’s words,
clutched his chest, his face ashen.
“How could anyone be so cruel? Who’s
Olivia? Whose birthday is more important
than a house fire?!”
Yes, how could he? He’d sworn I was his precious treasure, he’d fight anyone who hurt me. Now he was the one trying to kill us. Suddenly, my phone rang. A restricted
number.
υπαρισι L
I answered immediately.
“Hello, this is the city fire department. Is there
a fire at your residence?”
“Yes! It’s me! Hurry!”
“We’re on our way!”
Soon, fire trucks arrived. Using the building plan and my instructions, they got us out
safely.
15
An ambulance followed. Holding my parents‘
hands, I thought: We’ve been given a second
chance. I won’t waste it.
Doctors rushed my parents into the ER.
<
Doctors rushed my parents into the ER.
Reporters swarmed me.
“Did you contact local firefighters when the
fire started?”
“Your husband’s a firefighter, why resort to
livestreaming for help?”
“Someone online, claiming to be a firefighter,
says this is a stunt. Care to comment?”
P
4 H
17
7
Taking a deep breath, I held up my ID.
“My name is Melissa Miller. I’m reporting Jake Miller, my husband, a firefighter with Engine Company 1, for having an affair with a
married pregnant woman, Olivia Parker.
They’re currently at 204 Willow Creek Drive,
<
“Furthermore, my husband, using his position,
colluded with firefighter Kevin Brady to deny
us emergency assistance.”
My hands trembled, replaying our near–death
experience.
“Kevin Brady also spread rumors online,
claiming my livestream was a hoax to
discourage people from calling 911.”
FOR
#
“My mother has a heart condition, my father
has high blood pressure. They nearly
suffocated in the smoke–filled apartment and
are now in critical condition.”
“I ask the media to report this and urge local authorities to address this injustice. I don’t
want anyone else to suffer this nightmare.”
<
authorities to address this injustice. I don’t
want anyone else to suffer this nightmare.”
My palms sweated, my heart pounded.
I turned and entered the hospital, reporters
held back by security.
Standing outside the operating room, I felt
detached, adrift.
What if, despite this second chance, my
parents didn’t make it?
Kevin rushed over, a mix of guilt and relief on
his face. He dropped to his knees.
“Melissa, Jake said you were faking it, trying
to stop him from celebrating Olivia’s birthday.
I didn’t realize…the fire was real.”
Г
“The reporters got me, people threw eggs…
Can you tell them it wasn’t my fault? I’m a
good firefighter!”
Egg yolk dripped from his hair. His clothes
were rumpled, evidence of the reporters‘
ambush.
Before I could speak, a passing nurse spat at
him.
“Good firefighter? You couldn’t tell a real fire
from a fake one!”
Kevin hung his head. I ignored his theatrics. My complaint against him stood.
My phone rang. Jake.
L
I declined the call, but he kept calling.
Kevin awkwardly stood, muttering, “He must
be worried about your parents.”
I scoffed. “You believe that?”
Of course he didn’t. Jake’s lack of affection
for me was no secret.
They all thought I’d trapped him with a fake drunken hookup.
The truth was, Olivia dumped him for being broke, then moved abroad, quickly marrying a rich guy.
Jake saw me getting out of my dad’s car, learned about my dad’s influential position,
