It all began in flames.

Well, that makes it sound a lot more intense than it actually was. The truth is, I went to the grocery store and left a candle burning on the bookshelf in my apartment, which caused the whole apartment to burn.

Driving home, I had the window in my jeep open, and as I got closer, I could smell the smoke. I just thought someone was having a bonfire or something until I looked in the direction of my apt. and saw the smoke rising from it. At this point I was panicked.

I tried to convince myself that it was someone else's house, maybe a neighbour, but as I turned the corner of the block my apt. was on, I saw it. Flames engulfed the wall of my bedroom, dancing into the sky just under the heat waves, which were just under the smoke.

So I called the police. Yeah, I probably should have called the fire department, but I was in shock and the police got the message when I said "mY hOuSe Is oN fIrE hElP" so they sent the fire department.

And that leaves me here, on the other side of the street, looking across at my house, now charred and inhospitable. The shock had mostly worn off, and the realization was just settling in my stomach that I have no place to live. I'm homeless. My mind made it seem much worse than it was, but I had a small panic attack before I realized that I could call my mom for help. I'm sure she'd let me stay with her until my apt. could be rebuilt or something.

I pulled the iPhone out of the back pocket of my skinny jeans because the frONT POCKETS WERE FAKE FIGHT ME and dialed my mom's number. I held the phone up to my ear and waited.

One ring.

Two rings.

I adjusted my standing position to put weight on my other leg.

Three rings.

I started pacing on the sidewalk.

Four rings.

At five rings, I was really worried. She always answered before four rings. Did something happen to her? Is she in a comma at a hospital somewhere? Did she die?

Click. "Hello?"

FINALLY. "Hey! Hi, um, who are you?" I asked, still a bit worried. She might be a nurse or something, calling to inform me that she's dead-- oh wait, I called her.

"I'm a friend of Helen's. What do you need her for?" the voice on the other end answered.

"Oh, I'm her daughter, Mia. I was hoping I could talk to her?"

"Yeah, sure, I'll bring you to her."

Awkward silence.

"Mia? What's up?" my mom's voice rung in my ears and I let out a sigh of relief. I really needed to calm down.

"Nothing. Nothing, I'm all good--" I almost answered, until I remembered that my freaking house burned down. "Oh, wait, I need somewhere to stay for a while."

"Mia, what did you do?"

"Nothing, mama. Just. . . burned my house down. A little bit." I squeaked.

"Mia, I'm in Hawaii! I can't help you, I'm sorry, but how the hell did you burn your house down? What did you do, leave you stove on? That is the most irresponsible. . ." I kinda tuned her out after that. Hawaii? Would've been willing to drive to Seattle from my home in Colville, WA, but there's no way I can get to Hawaii.

My mom's change in tone brought my attention back to her voice. "Okay, I'm sure your Aunt Allison would be willing to help you out. She lives alone in Spokane." she gave me the address and I got in my car and drove.

Five minutes in, I realized the police probably need me, but I decided I was too far away to turn back (or I just didn't want to interact with them) and kept driving.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

After the two hour drive, it was seven o'clock in the evening and I was a little worried I might interrupt her dinner or something. I parked my car outside her house and pulled the key out of the ignition. Then I waited.