Midnight

At 11am today, my neighbor’s house caught fire. I found out when the second police car flew by my house, followed by two fire engines. The fire was fast moving starting in the kitchen and traveling up the stairs to the bedroom. This type of fire produces thick smoke, displacing all oxygen. Those that do not or cannot escape usually die within.

On this day, fire officials entered the kitchen from the broken (from the inside) picture window. They removed my neighbor (condition unknown) and then went back in and removed his dog.

The dog’s name is Midnight.

Midnight could have easily jumped out of the first floor window to safety at the onset of the fire. My neighbor most likely could not escape on his own (wheelchair bound) instead opting for breaking the window to give Midnight his chance.

Midnight chose to stay.

In doing so, he died at the scene.

All in attendance witnessed the definition of loyalty.

My neighbor found Midnight as a stray puppy, raised him, fed him, and took care of him for thirteen years.

Midnight could have left, but loyalty kept him beside the only friend he had, even if that loyalty cost him his life.

It took four hours for the smoke to clear and the last firefighter to leave the scene. By tomorrow, the story of the fire will begin to fade.

The story of Midnight will not.