We Couldn't Escape

You look graceful, comes to me as I walk around with a heavy heart.

We couldn’t escape, they told me.

We were trapped.
The fire lasted for a long time.
It wouldn’t stop.

I sensed their desperation. Hopelessness.

until:
absolute surrender to death.

which was an absolute surrender to life.

exhale.

And a deeper silence has spread ever since.