Ashes at the Celebration

I knelt in front of Samuel and pleaded, "Samuel, please! I beg you! You need to save Nina! She's really inside! Please!"

"Shut up!" He kicked me aside and looked at me disgustedly. "Take her away! Don't let her near the fire!"

I was dragged away by a few firemen. They ignored my pleas no matter how much I yelled or struggled.

"Samuel!"

Chaos was everywhere, but all I could hear was my heart pounding.

As time passed by, children kept being rescued from the fire, but Nina was still nowhere to be found.

Two hours later, Samuel came out with a girl in his arms. I immediately recognized her to be Tilly Sharp, Dana's daughter.

I rushed over in a panic and grabbed Samuel's arm. My nails dug into him. "Samuel! Where is Nina? Where is our daughter? How could you do this? How could you be so cruel!"

He ignored me, showing a hint of annoyance. He lowered his head and gently wiped away the tears on Tilly's face. "Tilly, don't be scared. You're okay now."

At this moment, Dana rushed over. When she saw her daughter, she hugged Samuel. "Samuel! I knew you would rescue Tilly!"

What an ironic scene. It was as if they were a family of three.

With a strong wind, the kindergarten was engulfed in an even bigger flame.

I trembled and looked at the fire incredulously. I shook my head violently. "I-Impossible! N-No! Help! Somebody! Put out the fire!"

I sat on the ground and sobbed hysterically. Even as the fire was put out, Samuel had never once looked at me.

Once the fire was put out, the surroundings quieted down.

Samuel took Dana and Tilly into the ambulance and left without looking back.

I stood up with difficulty and stumbled into the kindergarten. The building was burnt beyond recognition. I slowly walked upstairs. With every step I took, my heart sank a little more.

Nina's favorite dance studio was right at the end of the corridor.

I entered the studio trembling. I saw two burnt bodies. An adult and a child. I fell to the ground and sobbed loudly once more.

Nina's dance teacher was hugging her tightly.

With trembling hands, I gently pushed the dance teacher's body aside. Nina's whole body was burnt, except her face. She looked like she was sleeping soundly.

I pulled Nina into my arms. "I'm sorry… I'm so sorry. It's all my fault! I couldn't protect you…"

The fire in the kindergarten had been put out, but the fire within me was raging.

I bowed at the dance teacher gratefully. She made sure that Nina knew she was loved, even at the last moment of her life.

The doctor and the coroner came. I calmly picked up Nina's body and immediately sent her for cremation.

Nina liked to be pretty. I did not want her to see her burnt body.

I hugged her urn. I wanted to cry but no tears came out. "Nina, please don't ever be my daughter in the next life…"

I took Nina home.

Without Nina, the place felt empty. When I saw Nina's clothes and belongings, a huge wave of sadness overwhelmed me again.

Samuel called out. His voice was icy, "There's a celebration tonight. Bring Nina along."

The day of his celebration was the day of my daughter's death. His honor was paid for by my daughter's life.