Abigail spun in her chair, jumped up, and exited the cubicle she occupied 7 hours each weekday. She sprinted towards the stairwell and kicked off her Manolos to gain traction. The fire alarm was bleating with no intervals now. And it was deafening. Reaching a near frantic speed she realized she failed to grab her purse and was without her phone. Emmie would be worried, no terrified. The news would be all over Youtube. She would reach her once she exited the building, and felt momentarily reassured. Abigail, Meaghan, Sanjeep, and Asher reached the top of the stairs simultaneously, restrained panic in their eyes. Yelling over the sound of the warning buzzer Asher took charge, his broad shoulders gesticulating toward the best route to descend. Instantly smoke began to billow up the stairwell infiltrating the mezzanine and forcing them to retreat. Without discussion and in unison they regrouped to make their way to the kitchenette. The window although tiny, could be breached to reach the outside scaffolding. They could hear the sirens approaching now, but did not slow down their momentum or resolve. Meaghan went first. Her slender legs scraping the sides of the sill leaving blood trickling down the white subway tiles. Abigail followed, anxious about whether she would fit through at all. She turned to the men, knowing they were both too bulky to make it though, and forced a reassuring nod. Asher gave her a push, her tears now streaming impaired the clarity of the escape route ahead, and helped thrust her body forward through the stained cavity. Turning abruptly as she stepped onto the iron platform on the other side, she could no longer see either colleague. She knew they were already scuttling to find another sortie. The fire truck had arrived and would surly reach them in time. Abigail inched closer to Meaghan on the precipice and tightened her grip on the overhead steel bar. The stench and black smoke now snaking out through the window above was ominous and final. She did not feel confident. Abigail whimpered softly and fixated on Emmie, her eternal happy place. Word Prompt: 10 minute free write - "your happy place"
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April 2024
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