FIRE 

By Tessa Harvey

    My sister Elise has invited a friend, Gemma. Only Elise knew she was autistic, but only told us as we were entering the Sports Complex. "Gemma doesn't like noise and crowds and she doesn't climb, but she'll be fine." But Elise is nervous.
    A teacher at school has been teaching us about prayer and God. So, I pray and Gemma is fine, even climbing up high!
    In my dream we are all sat at a table in one of the Sports Centre party rooms. Elise or Gemma drop a piece of cake by mistake. They cannot pick it up. It keeps slipping through their fingers.
    They start giggling and then cannot stop. In my dream, we are all smiling or laughing and mum clears up the cake mess.
    Then the happy noise turns to crackling and I wake up. Smoke is everywhere. Fire somewhere. I have failed my family. Where are they? Panicked, I missed my footing. That is how I fall. I try to crawl, but cannot find the way out.

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