Point of no return...with no regret.

the house was up in flames
they licked at the window sides of the building
we, as firemen, were on a mission
to save the people
I went in with a friend
he found the mother right away
she shouted, concerned, for her daughter
the daughter called back
trying to be found and saved
I told my friend that I would find her
and carry her out to safety

I hurried to find her on her bed
I saw her huddled for protection under her blanket
she was so smart for her age of five
when she saw me I pulled her into my arms
and she accepted with her arms spread wide
she gripped my uniform with all her might
I wrapped the blanket tighter around her
to protect her skin from the fire
she looked up at my face
with her big beautiful blue eyes
I was frozen to the spot in that instant
by the likeness of an angel she looked
she broke the spell
by snuggling closer
I woke up from the daze

I slowly walked to the entrance I used to get in
the warmth was smothering me
without warning there was a big cracking sound
it made my heart jump, skip a beat
the girl clung harder to me
and I puller her closer to protect her

in the middle of making my next step
the ceiling had fallen down on me
I pulled her safely under me
without putting my weight on her
shielding her from the fire on the ceiling

my buddy came into view slowly
he was there to make sure I was okay
and if I needed help finding the girl
as soon as he was near
he saw the girl and I on the floor
he had worry lines littering his forehead
he tried to pull us both up
but we were both too much
slowly and cautiously I pushed the girl to his feet
he saw and he looked at me
with a look of admiration and worry
he knew as much as I
that I would not be able to walk out of there

before he scooped the girl up
she looked at me with a tear
rolling down her cheek
love and sadness filled her eyes
I wiped two fingers upward against her cheek to soothe her
she grabbed my hand and held it closely to her heart
I could feel the beat and the love she had
it was like a five-year-old in front of me
with the intelligence of an adult

slowly they escaped together
her never taking her sad eyes from looking at me
I was alone after they made their departure
the house crashed down to the ground
right after they left
they had no chance to stop the collapse

darkness surrounded me
and I no longer felt the pain
slowly a bright light appeared
my eyes grew moist with the knowledge of my death
and with all I had left behind
I knelt down to cry further

but before I could cry anymore
I felt someone small in front of me
I raised my face higher to see the little girl I saved
from the fire that took my life
she softly wiped the tear from my cheek as I did hers
when I just starde at her amazed
she slowly held out her hands for me
I slowly lifted my hand
making sure she wouldn't disappear
after I touch it gently
I grasp her hand
when I stood up we walked together
toward the light