She remembers heat before she remembers kindness.
The fire was loud and cruel, stealing her world in a single breath.
She was only a baby, still believing her mother would return.
Smoke burned her nose, pain spread across her face, and her cries went unanswered.
The ground was cold while her skin burned, and the silence after the flames felt heavier than the fire itself.
She curled tightly, waiting, because waiting was all she knew.
Hunger joined the hurt, sharp and confusing.
Fear whispered that she was alone.
Then footsteps came.
New smells—human, worried—filled the air.
Gentle hands lifted her, wrapping her in warmth she had forgotten existed.
For the first time since the fire, she felt safe.The ride was long and painful, but voices stayed soft.
Cool medicine eased the sting, food returned her strength, and light slowly came back.
She slept without dreaming of flames and learned that kindness could follow fire.