2020©Isadora DeLaVega
He came home at 1:30 a.m. He’d done a 4 to midnight tour.
Sandy, always, waited up for him. She could never sleep when he was at work.
Baking and ironing kept her occupied until she heard the key in the door.
His enormously firm hug let her know it had been a tough night.
She could smell smoke in his hair.
He rambled on about the fire and casualties.
Six children, he repeated several times.
Tears fell down his face.
We could hear them screaming.
The flames were everywhere.
We just couldn’t get them out.
They died.
2020©Isadora DeLaVega
~~~~~~~~~
Genre: Flash Fiction
Word Count: 100 words
Photo Prompt©RogerBultot
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***** Edited story from 2015 that didn’t receive much recognition the first time.
Inside the Mind of Isadora 
April 19, 2020 at 7:19 pm
To have to see such things will make it very hard to sleep…
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April 20, 2020 at 6:14 pm
Yes, I believe many of these men and women will have after effects from all of the things they’re going through. I’m pleased you read my story, Bjorn. Thank you … Isadora 😎
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April 19, 2020 at 1:12 pm
Firefighters have a very tough job, and I am thankful for them. Beautiful writing, Isadora.
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April 20, 2020 at 6:16 pm
Thank you, Linda. Yes, they have difficult jobs. Many of these civil servants will need after care themselves when this is all over. We owe them our thanks and prayers.
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April 19, 2020 at 4:04 am
A calm telling of the stuff of nightmares. He is lucky he has a caring person waiting at home for him.
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April 20, 2020 at 6:25 pm
We owe the civil servants a lot of prayers during this time. They’re out there helping and saving those who cannot save themselves in difficult situations. Let’s hope they don’t all come out okay after all of this. Thanks for reading and commenting. I always appreciate it. Izzy 😎
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April 18, 2020 at 11:10 pm
Oh my, Isadora! That was a tough one. Beautifully written, though.
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April 20, 2020 at 7:28 pm
Thanks, Dale. It’s a tough job these civil servants do. Hopefully, they won’t be in need
of help after this is over. I appreciate all of your visits and comments.
Isadora 😎
ps – wp said to keep telling everyone to check their SPAM. : (
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April 20, 2020 at 7:37 pm
Well you’re safe with me now!
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April 20, 2020 at 8:02 pm
Merci ❤️ you get a glass of wine for checking🍷😎
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April 20, 2020 at 8:47 pm
😉
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April 18, 2020 at 2:23 am
Whoa! Took the wind out of my sails there. Iz, you really made this one full of life. I about cried at that ending.
Como estas? Five out of five restful nights.
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April 20, 2020 at 6:11 pm
Bueno, Kent, que sorpresa. Si estoy bien.
Bienvenido hay a vida loca del escritor. lol
Glad you enjoyed my story. A bit timely considering the circumstances these civil servants are finding themselves in. Let’s hope there aren’t any after effects … but there will. 😫 Gracias por visitar …Iz 😎
ps – having difficulty leaving comments on blogs. I left a comment on your story but it didn’t post. perhas, SPAM box has it. : (
pps – your story has a bit of Hoffa-ism. Any connection? No, don’t tell me … LOLOL
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April 22, 2020 at 1:51 pm
Muchísimas gracias, Iza. Nobody around me has been infected, gracias a Dios, and it seems like everyone has adopted my lifestyle for the moment. Rochelle always mentions a “disturbance in the force” when it comes to on-line stuff … which would probably be correct being as how the internet has been used MUCH more than before by the whole world at one time. Talk about using too much bandwidth … wow! Thanks for liking my story. Don’t know what I’m going to write now. But, I’ll try this time. Buenos dias.
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April 17, 2020 at 6:48 pm
he mustn’t feel guilty they had done their best and still it wasn’t enough to save them. after all, they’re only human.
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April 20, 2020 at 5:46 pm
Yes, I think most civil servants are feeling the weight of their responsibilities in the extreme. Let’s hope that there isn’t psycological issues in the future for these brave souls. Thank you for commenting.
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April 17, 2020 at 12:21 pm
Querida Isadora,
When my husband and I were dating he served on the Fire Department. He told me some of the horrors he’d seen. He was very young and singed by it all. Guess you could say he couldn’t take the heat…don’t blame him. My admiration goes out to those who do last. Bien escrito mi amiga.
Shalom y buen salúd,
Rochelle
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April 17, 2020 at 4:44 pm
Querida Rochelle,
My husband took both of the tests. NYPD responded first. Otherwise, I may have lived through this.
It’s difficult for most to be able to do these jobs. He was smart to listen to his instincts.
Espero que estes bien. pasa un buen fin de semana.
Abrazos y carino,
Isadora 😎
ps – my comments aren’t appearing on the FF sites I’m visiting.
I’ll try to figure it out but seems weird. Perhaps, a glitch on WP.
Like life isn’t hard enough; now, we have computer issues. 🤪😫😳🤣🍷
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April 16, 2020 at 11:02 pm
You conveyed the emotions of the event potently…. 😪
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April 17, 2020 at 4:39 pm
I’m pleased the emotions came through, Ivor.
It’s the most important part of my story. Thank you 😎
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