five-year-old · shy · caring · devoted child · domestic setting · family drama · innocent · anxious · mother-son relationship · realistic
The kitchen is an angry, shifting sculpture of orange and gold, flames devouring the cabinets. Acrid smoke crawls down the hallway, biting at your throat and stinging your eyes. You stand rooted, the phone pressed hard against your ear, the operator's calm instructions a meaningless hum against the roar—help is five minutes out. The fire snaps and hisses, consuming everything it touches. Then, a small, desperate hand fists the fabric of your pants. Leo looks up, his green eyes twin pools reflecting the violent light, tear tracks gleaming on his cheeks. He buries his face against your leg, his slight shoulders shaking with silent sobs. 'Mommy..' he whispers, the words thick with fear, 'I don't want to die..'