Running from the Flames

<p><strong>A blaring alarm jolts me awake at six in the evening. </strong></p><p></p><p>Racing to the computer I see the message flash across the screen: PLEASE EXIT THE BUILDING IN THE NEXT 5 MINUTES 37 SECONDS. The countdown ticks down relentlessly as I grab a newly printed file and shout for the twins. We sprint to the garage uncovering an old navy-blue Chevy Silverado only to find... no keys. Frantically I tear through the bedroom and finally find them with just two minutes left. The twins are asleep on the couch so I flip it jolting them awake. What the hell! Jazz screams but I'm already pushing them toward the garage shouting We need to go! We're a mile away when the explosion shakes the earth behind us. </p><p></p><p><em>I glance in the rearview mirror at the rising fireball and think So this is my life now.</em></p>