2

I rushed towards the burning building, without thinking, throwing my bag aside. I put my shirt over my nose and mouth as a sort of mask to prevent the smoke from entering my lungs.

I rushed into the building, checked the first floor, nothing. I sprinted up to the second floor, I found nothing. I went up to the third floor, and still found nothing.

I wasn’t discouraged though, no, all rationalization in my body had disappeared now.

I went all the way up to the 6th floor, and finally found something, Lucy’s bag. Right in front of that was a flashlight. Things were strewn about the floor, and I followed them.

I finally found where they led to. A large wall of fire. That’s when the rationalization started to kick in.

“Even if I do find her, will we both be able to get out? I should just leave, try to save myself. And if I do save Lucy, the press will be all over me, I just want to read my damn books.” I thought.

But I pushed through.

“Lucy!” I yelled towards the fire.

“Hello?” I heard yell back.

“I’m coming! I’ll get you out!”

I ran down one floor, and to the other side of the building, back up another staircase, and was on the same side as Lucy.

“Apollo?” Lucy asked, sitting on the ground.

“Lucy! Come on!” I put out my hand, and we locked together.

Lucy and I ran together down the staircase, around to the other side of the building, down two more levels, ran to the other side of the building to avoid fire, and ran down 3 more floors to the exit.

We ran out the front doors to the media’s attention. Many people were standing outside, most of them holding cameras or microphones.

But that didn’t matter, because right next to me was Lucy. Still alive.

Lucy was crying. Different to her normal, emotionless face. And all I could do was stand there, still holding her hand.

Whenever I saw the main character lose all sense of reason and rush into a fiery building in anime or manga, I always thought that they were insane. Why would you risk your own life for someone you just met?

Although, I get it now. I finally understand.

It’s for a fraction of a chance.

That small chance that you both make it out alive, that is a living resemblance of your love for that person.

As I begin to hear the beeping of ambulances in the background, the sight of Lucy fades from view, for a darker approach.