The Moment That Changed My Life

            It was a relaxing August night, being spent with family and friends. We were all just hanging out while bringing in the new school year. I was officially a freshman in high school, and it was a big change in my life. The ironic part is that I didn't realize my life was about to change, even more. As my family was driving home from the get together, we noticed something odd while approaching our road. Why were there so many people and cars on our road? Why was our road being lit up? Well, as we got closer, what we saw was devastating. We were in disbelief and couldn't understand what was happening. Why was this happening to us? My brother and I just started screaming in pure terror and sadness, as we were pulling up to our house.

            When we parked our car on the side of the road, we saw many neighbors and curious people standing in the grass. Shockingly, there were fire trucks and firemen aiming their hoses towards our house. It was a sight I could never forget, as I stood there watching helplessly at the fire fighters trying to stop the flames. I felt hopeless and scared. There was no way that I could stop the tears from falling as I thought of all the memories in my home, being turned to ash. I wondered where I would lay my head to rest at night, and if this meant I was homeless. So many thoughts and questions were rushing through my head, but what I did know was that people cared about us. When word got around, my family and friends started showing up. It felt so good to be comforted by people I loved, especially at the time I needed it the most.

            After the flames stopped spreading throughout the house, it was time to figure out our next step. Where were we going to stay? My family was so supportive and they wanted to help us feel comfortable, luckily my uncle had extra room in his home to let us stay, until we rebuilt our house. Before we went to my uncles for the night, we went to Walmart to pick up a couple of essentials. It was such a terrible feeling knowing that all I had was the clothes I was wearing. I no longer had any belongings, no clothes and no food. I felt so empty and scared, I didn't know why this was happening, and it all happened so fast.

            The next day, we went to check out all of the damage. When we got to the house, the smell of smoke was overwhelming, and it’s a smell that will stick with me forever. It took a little motivation, but eventually we got ourselves to go inside the house. The basement was the least damaged, but it still was coated in black smoke, and was extremely water damaged. As we headed upstairs, the sight was unbearable. Our whole kitchen and living room, was just a big pile of ashes, the place that I felt the most comfortable in, just demolished and burnt. I decided I wanted to see my bedroom, although I knew that it would just upset me. My room was completely black; my bed filled with stuffed animals was also black, and not savable. I looked around at all the things I wish I could keep, and realize that I will never have these things again. Most of my belongings were melted, and damaged. This was something that hit me really hard, I wanted all of those things, and I was so hurt that in a matter of seconds everything I had was ripped away from me.

After the house was cleaned out, and the walls were gutted, it was time to rebuild! It was such a great feeling to know I was about to have a home again. Every step they took in rebuilding the house, I got more and more excited. I was so ready to have my own room again, and to make more memories in our new house! Once the house was close to being completed, the anticipation of moving in was overwhelming. When the construction was finished, we quickly moved in and started our new journey in the brand new house. Sleeping in my new room felt so strange, I didn't really have any decorations and the room was really bare. I didn't care that I didn't have very many things, I was just happy to be in my room again.

      Throughout this journey, I learned a couple of things. I realized that objects don’t really matter. Once you've lost everything you've had, you realize that everything you thought you needed, were just things you wanted. I think after the fire I am more grateful for things I get; receiving presents has more meaning to me. Another thing I learned is that the most important thing in your life is family. The support of a loving family is everything to me, and I am so grateful for them. I am so lucky for everything I have in my life, and I don’t take anything for granted anymore. The fire incident has made me a better person, and I wouldn't trade that for anything. 

"You never realize how strong you are, until being strong is the only choice you have."