Lost in a Fire

The tragic mom who lost her three young daughters and parents in a Christmas Day blaze in Connecticut tried to take her own life. – NY Daily News

He sat with his hand on her knee in the corner of a small white room. Her face was buried behind a magazine and he slowly rubbed his thumb over her bone.

“It’s just terrible,” he said. “Just terrible. Everything gone in the blink of an eye.”

The woman put her hand over his and lowered the magazine. Her eyes were red.

“At least she’s OK,” she said.

He smiled and brought his hand up to his chin to scratch his two-day old beard.

“She’s going to survive,” he said. “I’m not sure if OK is the right word.”

She took in a deep breath and bit her tongue. Her hand rested on his for a moment then carried the magazine back up in front of her face.

“She’s going to be OK,” she repeated.

“I just don’t think it’s possible,” he said. “If it had happened to me. I would have done the same thing. Who could go on living after something like that. It’s irreparable damage. You don’t come back from something like that. She may be breathing today but she died in that fire.”

“Don’t talk like that,” she said. “It will take time but she’ll be OK. Time heals all wounds.”

“And so does death.”

When they were called into the doctor’s office they were given instructions on how to act. They were told about the medication and were given a few numbers to some good psychologists in the area. They thanked the doctor and walked into the room where the woman laid.

She didn’t move when they entered. Her eyes were fixated on something intangible outside the window.

The woman sat down next to her and grabbed her hand. She opened her mouth to speak but couldn’t find any words to say.

“How are you feeling?” “It’s good to see you.” “Are you OK?” “Do you need anything?”

There were no words to say. The woman laid on her back in the hospital bed wearing a paper thin blue gown. Her face was scarred from the fire. Her eyes were glazed and lifeless. The unwanted beating of her heart forced air into her lungs and her chest rose and fell faintly beneath the gown.

They stood in silence for a long time watching things that were not there in front of the window. The woman finally spoke.

“It’s going to be OK,” she said, but she wasn’t sure if she truly believed it.