I am a fireman at local hall #39 when we recieved a 5 alarm call
for a terrible fire on the south side of town..
A 22 year veteran my crew and I scampered to our
hook and ladder as we had done hundred times before
and we raced to the fire with unflinching resolve..
We arrived to find the old appartment complex nearly
destroyed with only a small chance of making our way
to the second floor of the building where voices were
screaming admist black billowing smoke and we
set to the task of extending our ladder in a desparate
attempt to save those perishing souls..
Our steel ladder found its way threw the hot ash
and thick smoke to the second floor and we snatched
two victums as the walls of the building began
collasping and suddenly a woman emerged from
the smoke filled room clutching a small black
book and as I reached my hand toward her thrust
the small book into my hand and then vanished
back into the fire and smoke..
In the immensity of the flames and hellish heat
we had no choice but to retreat to ground level
watching with regret as the scorching fire took
its toll on the old building..
As the fire hoses pumped water furiously at the
remaining timbers I wiped the ash and smoke
from the lil black book that the woman thrust into
my hand before she perished..
I opended the book and read the the opening words
from the half scorched pages..
The words read:
Dear Paul,
This is the end.
I left you because all meaning
was lost to our lives..
You neclected our daughter and were rarely home
for us..
I set fire to this building and I knew you and
your local firehouse would come to the call..
You wouldn't recognise me after all these years..
I'm sorry.. I'd rather burn than live in the hell of the
the nothingness we had..
Your wife.