Ben's hand hovered above the table, inches from the pills where he had left them.
"FIVE"
The walls of Ben's house trembled. His fingers went numb as he walked towards the window.
"FOUR"
People were gathering in the streets. Laughter echoed through the neighborhood. Someone was singing loudly.
"THREE"
"TWO"
"ONE"
Zero, Ben thought.
The fireworks meant to climb the sky twisted midway towards the window of a nearby house.
A hush fell over the crowd. It only lasted for a few seconds before the panic erupted.
Ben ran towards the stairs, leaping two steps in one stride.
Smoke came out of the broken window. A woman's rough voice tore through the window.
"Help! Please!"
Ben forced the door open.
He ran towards the kitchen, where a woman was curled over her child. Her back was red as she shielded the child with her body.
Ben tore his shirt off and covered the woman and child with it as he held them in his arms.
He reached for the kitchen door. His fingers met cold concrete. He stared at the rubble as flame swallowed it.
The woman's eyes met his, wide with despair.
"Please, Ben, you have to save my child."
A ladder slammed against the kitchen's window as a yellow helmet filled the frame.
Ben rushed towards the window.
"Here, here!" Ben yelled.
The firefighter shouted through the window. "We will help them; you first."
Ben looked at the woman's face, then at the child's. He passed the mother and child to the firefighter.
"Your turn," the firefighter shouted, but Ben's gaze was focused on the gas cylinder glowing red. He pushed the firefighter back.
The cylinder ruptured. Fire swallowed Ben whole.