The tendrils of smoke crept under the door as I held onto my baby sister, she was screaming. I didn’t know what to do. I could save myself by jumping out the window, but what about Tammy? What if she died on the impact? And I didn’t know where Suzie or Mom or Dad was. What if they didn’t get out? It was getting hard to breath. Tammy was screaming hysterically and coughing. I threw the window open feeling the heat hit me with incredible impact as the fire flashed over with the added oxygen. I saw a bush below, about ten feet beneath the window. With one backward glance at the fire I clutched my little sister to my chest and jumped.
For one heart-wrenching second I was midair, and then I was crashing through the bush, my leg was hurting like hell. I looked around. I saw firemen running around, getting the water started and trying to find anyone in the house. I tried to yell for help but my throat wasn’t working. Finally I saw Suzie and my parents, just as they saw me and came running to help. We were safe.