She woke up that morning prepared to make the day hers

She was so ready to conquer the day

She got up out of bed, opened the window and instead of smelling the roses that lay next to her windowsill and the morning air and the trash that needs to be picked up every day

She smelt smoke

She could feel it invading her lungs

She could feel in rushing into her room and making her eyes water

And instead of the hum of electricity or the sound of taxi cabs honking their horns

She heard hundreds of sirens.

She looked up and what she saw made her tremble in fear

The city was on fire.