More Than Ashes

partment, but it was close, carried on the night air through my open window. Then, the sirens started, a distant wail that grew into a piercing scream that seemed to

trained, breathless. "It's the res

g my lungs. I saw the glow before I saw the building, an angry orange light pulsing against the dark sky. When I turned the final corner, I stopped. Red and blue lights flashed everywhere, painting the faces of the crowd that had gathered. Firefighters aimed powerful streams of water into the hollowed-out shell of what was once my home, my entire world. T

s, a place with no memories. She was a food critic, and her space reflected her personality, clean and organized, with everything in its proper place. She was supportive at first. She he

rned on the gas stove. The click-click-whoosh of the blue flame sent a jolt of pure terror through me. My hand flew

m the living room.

me. Her voice was soft. "It's okay. We don't have to cook. We can order in." She held me, but her embrace felt distant, her mind already moving on to a solution

restaurants. I had managed to use the oven, a small victory, and was roasting a chicken. Chloe was sitting on the couch, scrolling th

nd her. I could hear the muffled tones of her voice, urgent and soothing. I turn

ready grabbing her purse and keys.

ough I already knew the ans

not good. I need to go check on him." Daniel was her former mentor, a celebrated

were havi

it tomorrow." She was out the door before I could say another word. I stood in the silent apartment, the scent of the roasted chicken filling the space. I

ether. I wanted to do something special, to prove to myself that I was moving forward, that we were still solid. I bought a beautiful cut of tuna, something t

t on the music she liked and opened a bottle of wine we had been saving. Seven o'clock came and went. The

It's our anni

the background, I could hear a man's voice, low and demanding. "It's just, Daniel's new menu proposal

Daniel?" My v

to her tone now, a defensiveness that always appeared when Daniel's name c

ch. I walked over to the table and looked at the single candle, its flame flickering, casting dancing shadows on t

, not just from the ovens, but from the easy way they moved around each other, a lifetime of love in their shared glances and gentle touches. My mom would always save me the crispy corner piece of

ddy, Tom, broke the silence. "Hey, ma

e okay,

tir up trouble, but a few of us saw Chloe tonight. Sh

a menu. It's for work." My voice was hollo

dn't look like he was having a meltdown, man. T

nsisted, the words feeling thin and p

of Chloe's apartment pressing in on me. I thought of my parents' restaurant, of the fire that took it all away, and I realized with a sickening certainty that I was