Rescue in the Ashes

We weren't supposed to find anything but then we heard a tiny cry. Smoke everywhere.

House collapsing. We're sweeping every room. Then mew. One small sound

under the debris. We dig by hand. Move boards. Ash everywhere. And there it is,

a shaking kitten, barely hanging on. Wrap it in a glove. Oxygen mask on. Heart pounding harder

than the fire. Then the moment. The kitten lets out one loud meow. Outside,

a little girl is crying. We walk over, kneel down, and place the kitten

in her arms. Her face lights up. Worth every second.