The news paper read "an early morning blaze",
the bold black print was there for all to see.
What they could not see, nor begin to understand,
is that horrifying blaze had claimed the life of a man.

It was said he was a hero, and in truth, that he was.
But can it not be seen, that behind the bravery,
there stood a gentle man?
His love of home and family, his wife and children,
meant the world to him.
Yet in one swift and fatal moment, all was lost to him.

This man had given his all to save the life of a child.
The thick black smoke, the searing heat, was no deterant,
there was a child in need.
He could not stop, he had to move on,
crawling, feeling his way to a little girl named Dawn.

He felt her as his gloved hand found her arm,
relief swept through him and his only thought
was to get her safe from harm.
He could hear his partner's voice
above the roar of the intense blaze.
He had to reach him before it was too late.

With the little girl cradled in his arms,
he crawled across the floor, the fire now raging all around.
He could not help but think as he cradled the little girl,
his own children lay safe and snug, all tucked in their beds,
on the other side of town.

The smoke cleared for a second, just a glimpse of daylight,
and he silently smiled, the little girl would be all right.
He reached the door and the girl was taken from his arms,
it was then that he realized his partner was nowhere around.

Smoke billowing out all about him now,
he breathed a sigh of relief as he saw his partner
now coming through the flames.
He frowned at the look upon his friend's face...
Something was wrong...he could only watch as his friend
tried to wave him aside...
He knew a horrible feeling in the pit of his stomach,
as the splintering sound of wood sounded directly above him.

His friends, comrades in arms,
helplessly watched in stricken horror
as a beam let go...knowing they had just lost a brother.

His name was Tim...

by
~Lilly~


May you all be safe, know peace and love
and the happiness of friends and family
and loved ones around you always. God Bless you.
I say a special prayer each night
for my "dragon slayer", Rob. Be safe darlin.
~Lilly~