I close the door and turn to push it, double checking it’s locked, I don’t want anyone getting into the apartment that easily, not that it would save the life of the man who owned the flat, he was already dead, I double checked.

I walk down the stairs and leave the apartment block, confident that the fire will start on time in exactly 4 minutes. As long as the bus is on schedule I should be able to see the first flickers of the fire from the bus window, not that I’ll look.

The bus is on time, as it goes past the apartment block I can’t help looking up, the telltale orange flickers are there, I sigh. I haven’t felt this exhilarated for too long. I didn’t know it then but I was only going to feel this way twice more as a free man.

Months later in court, I get asked if I have any feelings of remorse or regret. Of course I don’t, I found the one thing in the world that made me feel alive and if they’re ever foolish enough to let me out of here, I’m going to find it again.