POP POP POP. That loud noise that woke me early one morning. As I came out of a deep extra cold winter sleep I soon realized that life as this family knew would change. Flying into the air as if there was a force from the bed that made us rise to realize that a fire was smoldering upstairs, just feet from our sleeping bodies. Days and even hours before this horrific experience I was a different person. I was a women that was just trying to make it through life, trying to suede the like from a mother. I was Michelle a women, a daughter, granddaughter, sister, a niece, and a student.
When the realization hit that the house was on fire I knew that my role as just Michelle was quickly changing. Watching flames eat away at a home and soon to be family members I quickly and unexpectedly changed into a new women. As two men both loved by one and one loved immensely by me ran into the flames reality set in. I had to become someone that I never thought that I would be and that was a consular to people that faced such a tragedy. My role was to remain calm and keep my future mother in law calm as there were four loved ones trapped in the house. I did not know what I was doing and did not know if I was doing the job right. All I knew is that without God by my side at that point I could not have done anything at all.
As the fire trucks and paramedics arrived I was quickly relieved that something more could be done. We watched as the flames were put out and listening for any sign of life. Soon one loved one trapped was escorted down the hill, relief, there is hope. As the two men that at first ran into the flames came down the hill emotions hit. Three out of four trapped were safe, and as far as we could tell, sound. As for the fourth, firemen finally pulled him out of the crispy house and rushed him to the hospital where he later died. The three that survived and not in critical condition were soon taken to the hospital and treated for their minor injuries.
Sarah, the mother, and I were left to sit in an idling car to wait for escorts into the house to gather any belongings that we needed. Sitting and waiting, that is all we could do. Not knowing the status of the people we loved most. We sat in silence with panting sounds of dogs. At times we would look at each other not sure what to say. Sarah then said to me, thank the lord you were here to help, I could not have done it without you.
Winning love from her, in spite of the tragedy that she just lived, was so appreciated and uplifting that I was not just Michelle anymore. I was part of a new family by what seemed a snap of a finger. I was to Sarah a saving grace that could not be replaced, I was appreciated for my presence by so many people that I was no longer just Michelle. I am not Michelle Ray the daughter, granddaughter, sister, niece, and student. I was the newest member of the Triplett/Ruf family. The prized possession of a man and the saving grace for at least one women.
