Wildfires

Autumn is never coming back.
She’s dead.
You fucking killed her, you little bitch.
Mia’s screams can’t drown out the sound of me crying.

I killed her,
ohgodohgodno;
It’s my fault and
No one else knew
Of her fatal flaw
But me,
Only me.

People thought she
Had a problem
But they never said it out loud.

Where are you?
I need to be there.
It’s. . .I don’t know. . .someone’s house.
Ryne could care less about her.
You better fucking figure it out, Ryne!
I screech, shoving Mia out of my way.
The cops are here, Iris, I can’t stay on the---
Iamgoingtofindoutwhathappened.
Where. Are. You?!
I am two seconds away from breaking the phone.
I’m at a house three blocks from the bakery on South Ridge,
he says quickly in a hushed voice.
I’ll be there. Are the cops already at the house?
The line disconnects, leaving me with an incessant beeping noise.

I slide open the window and escape;
I call the only person who can
Help me right now with my fingers crossed.

We’re going with you, Iris,
Ana says calmly, fingers curling around my wrist.
Her other arm is linked with Mia’s.
Mia doesn’t bother to look at me.

I shrug indifferently and
Sit on the curb with them
Before the bright lights of
A battered blue VW van
Nearly blind me.

Desiree, a cigarette dangling
From her lips,
Tells me to hurry up
And give her directions;
I proceed to do so and frown.

We’re off to the crime scene.

There’s no turning back at this point.