I was 11. Standing outside in just my shorts, I watched the house rapidly 1 to the ground. A few minutes earlier I had been in bed when I heard a 2 from my grandma's bedroom where a fire had 3 Hearing her, my elder brother jumped into4 , quickly waking everyone in the house. Before we could do anything the fire5 it. We all just made it outside before flames had 6 every room. I watched 7and my mom cried. I stood there 8 while the fire burned my books, clothes and toys. I wondered what would happen to us since we had 9all of our things.
As I looked around, 10, I realized something for the first time: The things that 11aren't things. I saw my elder brother running to get12. I saw my eldest brother on walking sticks from an earlier13 standing unsteadily on one leg. I saw my grandparents give each other a 14 and my mom holding our little dog. I realized at that moment that we were all 15. Everything that was essential had 16the fire. Our lives would 17 without the “stuff” that was burning. I still think of that fire, which helped me to learn that the 18 we share is far more important than the things we 19.
Live your life then for the valuable things and let the “fire” inside of you make this world a 20 place. Let your soul shine bright.
