In the Coffin

Krysty lay in the middle of her room; watching the door smoke. The fire on the other side was still there’ crackling’ waiting; trying to smoke her out, making her eyes run and her lungs burn. Only one thought was resound, sluggishly, through her head. ‘I don’t want to die’ Slowly Krysty crawled to the door. She was hoping the fire had given up. The closer she got, though, the more her eyes burned and leaked. “Just a little bit farther.” Weakly she reached out and felt the door with the back of her hand; only to quickly pull away. The door was still too hot. It was still crackling on the other side. Almost like cackling. As if the fire itself was laughing at her stupidity. ‘I don’t want to die.’ Krysty crawled back to the middle of the room. All hope had washed away with her tears. ‘I’m not going to made it.’ This new thought caused more tears to fall.  Then she saw it. Someone was at the door! Krysty drew in a deep breath to scream. But all that came out were coughs. Her room was spinning around her and her head felt light. As soon as her door burst open she saw white.

 

            Krysty woke up a few minutes later. “Where am I?” Her throat her more than she could ever had imagined. Carefully, Krysty looked at the paramedic. “I’m alive?” The paramedic continued typing; only glancing at her occasionally with held back tears in his eyes. Slowly, Krysty looked out of the Ambulance. Her house was gone, burned to the ground. Before she could fully assess the damage her view was blocked by a distraught looking fireman. The paramedic looked at the fireman sympathetically. “You did what you could.” The paramedic whispered pain in his own eyes as well. Krysty tilted her head and looked from one to the other in confusion. Then everything went white again.

 

            The next time Krysty woke up she was in a box. ‘No…I’m in a coffin.’ Fear shot through her. “I’m not dead!” Tears threatened to fall again. Everyone was looking at her but they didn't hear her. Its like they really didn't see her. All the sudden the coffin’s lid started to move. “WAIT! I’M NOT DEAD!” Her body was shaking with her fear filled sobs. Whimpers escaped her lips and tears blurred her vision as she scanned the crowd for someone who would listen to her. In the back, away from everyone, was the fireman from before. He was in his uniform looking broken. The girl whispered in his direction, “I’m not dead.” When she looked at her friends and family though she saw the truth in their eyes, she was dead. Tears were flowing and sobs filled the air. Krysty let calm tears fall as she accepted the truth. “I am dead.”

            The coffin lid closed and the screws screwed in. But she wasn't inside anymore.

            The truth had set her free.

            The girl lifted out of her body and up to the fireman.

            “I could have saved you.” The fireman whispered forlornly after everyone had left. He starred at her grave with dead eyes. Krysty gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

            “You did what you could. I don’t blame you.” The fireman’s eyes opened wide as a sense of peace overflowed in his heart; more tears trailed down his already stained cheeks. But new hope was in his eyes, and a small smile on his face.

Reviews

[Marie]

Rather good.