Nick was troubled and aimless. Then one night, everything changed.
At first, it was just faint light as Nick drove past a two-story house. Then he realized the house was on fire. He immediately pulled up to investigate. 1 was climbing up the front porch. Hurrying out of the 2 , he yelled, "Help, fire!" A car drove past and Nick tried to 3 it to stop, but in vain.
He ran to the back door, sure it would be 4 . To his amazement, it swung open. Without 5 , Nickran inside, peering into rooms to see if anyone was home. He had just started climbing when he 6 and saw four faces emerge at the top of the stairs. After Nick's warning, they came pouring down and rushed out.
"Anybody else in there?" Nick asked. When told a 6-year-old was still in, he ran back. By now, the whole house was in flames. The smell was 7 . The smoke was thick. He lifted his T-shirt to cover his mouth and nose. Ashe hesitated, he heard the kid crying 8 . Nick stumbled into the blackness, 9 on smoke. His 10 stayed alert as he moved toward the sound. Then suddenly the kid was in front of him and Nick quickly grabbed her into his arms. The flames were 11 even closer. Nick took a few steps 12 and threw himself out of the window. Outside, the firefighters had arrived. He handed over the girl—crying, but miraculously uninjured 13 a cut on her arm—before collapsing on the sidewalk.
Nick's burns have mostly healed, but other changes have been far greater. As news about his 14 spread, a GoFundMe account for his hospital bills exploded, reaching $600, 000. "It somehow feels like both a near-death experience and a 15 . "Nick said.
