Hello everyone,
First, I would like to apologize for my absence and the lack of news or updates. A lot has happened since my last post, and I will explain as much as possible. I'd like to recount what happened; I hope you don't mind.
BACKGROUND
My family and I lived in a prefabricated cabin-style house with high windows in every room. It was a house I never really liked because, when we moved there, we left behind a place that brought me a lot of nostalgia. Being someone attached to memories, I even refused to move at the time.
However, in recent years, when my mother separated from my father, I had to take on the role of 'Man of the House.' I had to repair things and handle maintenance—tasks my father used to do. During this period, I hadn't remembered my old resentment toward the house; I only remembered it when the flames consumed everything. That was when I understood the meaning of: "You only realize what you have when it's gone." It's a phrase often used in other contexts, but it applied perfectly here.
THE FIRE
Before this terrible event occurred, at around 2:00 AM on February 2nd, I was planning some chapters, working on drafts for another novel, and researching ancient cultures (as some of you know from my author notes). On a normal night, I would have stayed up until 5:00 AM to finish a chapter, but I had to work the next day filling in for my father. For the first time in years, he had taken the initiative to go to the dentist—something he is terrified of. Before going to bed, I ran into my mother, who was getting up to use the bathroom (something she usually did only once a night); she "kindly" reminded me to rest since I had to work the next day.
I fell asleep minutes later and only woke up when my siblings and mother were screaming in alarm for everyone to get out through the bedroom windows.
"Pablo! Felipe! Get out through your windows! The house is on fire!" my sister screamed in panic from her room while climbing out her window carrying her 6-year-old son.
"Boys, get out through your windows! The entrances are in flames! Please, get out through your windows!" my mother cried out in desperation. She was on the ground with injured elbows and knees from her hurried escape through the back entrance, which the fire was already consuming.
"Mom! Are you okay? Cecilia?! Felipe?!" my younger brother shouted at the same time as my sister, sounding confused as he staggered through the house trying to reach my mother.
It took me five seconds to reach my window after my sister's scream, but I didn't jump out immediately. Through the glass, I could see my mother on the ground, looking at her house in horror—a place she had put so much love into, and one she had fought and suffered for years to obtain. I could also see the forest around the house. it looked illuminated as if by the brightest day I've ever seen, but it was actually the flames lighting up the surroundings.
Once I realized my mother was out, my brother was about to escape, and my sister was safe, I finally decided to jump from my window without looking back. Falling from a height of nearly two meters, I assumed I would end up injured or with something stuck in my feet, but to my relief, I was fine.
When I got up, I saw my mother circling the burning house from the opposite side; she was walking slowly, limping. The screams from my siblings at the front of the house didn't stop.
"Felipe! Mom! Did you get out?!" my sister shouted. "We're out!" I yelled back.
I ran to the front of the house where I found my sister with my nephew in her arms. My mother approached from the other side, limping and crying profusely. Right in front of the house, I saw my brother on the ground. He had to use brute force to get out of his window because his room was closest to the origin of the fire; his hands were slightly burned because the heat had already warmed the glass.
As we gathered in front of the burning house, we just stared at each other, only then processing what had happened. In a moment of lucidity and worry for the near future, my sister wanted to go back into her room to rescue her phone, as it is vital for her work.
"What are you doing?" I asked her as she pulled a chair over to climb back in. "The fire hasn't consumed everything yet; we could save some things," she replied. "I'll do it," I said decisively.
I climbed onto the chair and went through the window. As soon as my torso was inside, I felt an alarming heat, and smoke was pouring out. I stepped back for a moment to gather courage while looking at my sister, who was waiting with some hope. I could also hear my mother's cries and my younger brother trying to calm her. When I went back in and saw what was actually happening, my skin crawled; the flames were already consuming the floor and my sister's bed, but I hadn't seen it from the outside. If I had jumped in on the first try, I likely would have burned my feet in seconds.
I backed out, hiding my fear. "We can't, Cecilia. The flames are taking everything," I told her with heavy heart.
We all gathered again a few meters away from the house, which was now completely engulfed. Small explosions and the sound of things breaking scared us, so we moved further away. Only 3 minutes had passed since the first scream, though we hadn't realized it. It was only then that we remembered to call the fire department. Since we were surrounded by a small forest, the fire could spread to the nearby homes of our relatives.
My sister and younger brother ran out shouting for help. My father, who lived nearby, arrived first. We both tried to use the garden hose to slow the fire, but it was useless. Neighbors and relatives began to arrive to help and console us. The following minutes were frantic—people running with plastic buckets of water, coordinated shouts, and relatives weeping.
Only then did we realize we had escaped in our pajamas: shorts, T-shirts, no shoes, no socks.
We lost everything. But we were all okay and safe. Therefore, we lost nothing.
CHRONOLOGY
(Compiled with accounts from the rest of my family)
Approx. 03:55 AM: A short circuit caused by erratic voltage (frequent in recent weeks) ignites the internal wiring. Sparks set a nearby curtain on fire. Smoke begins to drift into the bedrooms unnoticed.Approx. 04:02 AM: The flames reach the computer I used for writing, along with the sofas. My mother wakes up and finds the area in flames. In a desperate rush, she tries to put it out with a basin of water, but the effort is insufficient and dangerous. The fire expands rapidly. Smoke fills the house. 10% of the structure is covered.04:04 AM: My mother tries to clear the exits but trips over a chair and falls out the door. She begins screaming to alert everyone. I wake up confused. 30% of the house is on fire.04:05 AM: we gather in front of the house. I try to re-enter, but it's impossible. My father and I try to use water to no avail. 80% of the house is on fire. We move away in fear and pain, but with the relief of being alive.04:12 AM: The fire begins to singe nearby branches, but miraculously does not spread through the forest. Neighbors use an irrigation canal to gather water and stop the advance.04:28 AM: The flames die down as the structure totally collapses. The fire department arrives shortly after to extinguish the remaining embers.
MY THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS
As I said at the beginning, you don't know what you have until it's gone, and in this case, we truly lost everything. However, after exhausting days of persistent fear and receiving immense support from family, neighbors, friends, and the local government, we realized that what truly mattered were our lives.
If you noticed the timeline, we were literally minutes or seconds away from dying. If my mother hadn't miraculously woken up, we all could have perished. I truly thank God for that "nudge" He gave my mother.
In my previous update, posted about a day after the fire, I mentioned that we had received help and that I might be able to write again soon. I was so wrong. We have spent these last two weeks completely exhausted—paperwork, cleaning, repairs, and sleepless nights due to nightmares. We slept on sofas or the floor during the first few days.
However, thanks to all the help, we are much better now. The local government sent us two emergency housing units, which are already standing. Only final touches and... yes, a lot of paperwork... are left.
Regarding my family: we are all physically healthy. Some have psychological scars from the disaster, but nothing too drastic, I hope. We have clothes, food, and hygiene products. The schools of my 16-year-old brother and 6-year-old nephew helped them with supplies and uniforms. My 6-year-old nephew actually surprised me the most; the way he has handled the loss of everything has been extremely mature. I don't know how I would have reacted at his age.
CONCERNING THE NOVEL
I really want to continue writing consistently, but as you've seen, everything is unpredictable in these situations. It's hard to promise something I might not be able to fulfill.
We were just approaching an important topic: technology and the fantastic advancement it had in the kingdom—something we would have debated endlessly. But I am getting used to the pace of recovery, and it is possible I might be able to publish two chapters a week starting next week. If things keep improving at this extraordinary rate, I might return to my original schedule by the second week of March.
By the way, thank you so much for your comments and the comfort you offered in the previous post. I managed to read the first ones, but then, due to the situation, I could barely connect to the internet. I truly appreciate your concern and support.
P.S. I hope you found some good novels in my absence; feel free to recommend some.
P.S.2 I wrote this text in just over an hour, so I haven't lost my touch! Hahaha.
P.S.3 I will also respond to comments as soon as possible.