The tendrils of smoke crept under my bedroom door. A strange smell perforated the air as I was awakened by the piercing sound of an alarm. I shouted, “Mom! Are you there?” There was no answer. “Mom! Do you hear me?” I shrieked again. Still, no answer. I covered the lower half of my face with a sweater. Petrified my Mom was in danger, I decided to crawl across the hall to her room. I opened my door with fear; a large billow of smoke surrounded the upstairs hallway. I entered her room. Unable to distinguish more than a foot ahead of me and feeling as though I was going to lose consciousness, I decided I needed to find my way to the nearest exit. I worked my way down the steep stairwell and leaped out the front door.

“BOOM!”