Flashback
"...I should have expected this." I sighed, keeping the gift card and roses I received as a festival bonus in my inner pocket.
It was Christmas Eve.
Couples and families strolled the roadside, snowflakes fell slowly, and lights decorated the night sky.
Suddenly, loud sirens pierced through the tranquil ambience.
The peaceful streets turned hectic.
I followed the noise. My next job's shift would start at midnight, so I had a bit of free time on my hands.
The buildings at the street end were caught on fire.
"The place is burning!"
"Help! Someone help! My daughter is still inside!"
"Move away, miss! There is a chance that the apartments might collapse!"
The police struggled to maintain a semblance of order. They kept the crowd at a safe distance while waiting for the fire rescue.
I froze as soon as I saw the flames. Since the day my college burned, I have had a slight trauma from large fires.
