Distortion
They took me in when no one else would
They said they loved me
They put clothes on my back
Gave me chores before and after school
They kept food in my belly—most of the time
They hit me when I was bad
They hit me when I wasn’t good enough
They ignored me when they were bored of me
But…
I owe them
I have to pay them back
They saved me from an unknown world
I feel Indebtedness
It was hot after toiling in the bitter sun
Face, hair, uniform covered in sweat and ash
Yet the fire kept burning
Sixteen hours fighting for the structure behind me
Burning flames twenty feet higher than the tallest trees
Body weary
Throat parched
A mission to be finished
Completely surrounded by fire, no units can get to us
Scared, but determined
Just keep the fire at bay
Tap on the shoulder
Canteen shoved into my hands
Cool liquid satisfying the desolation settling over me
I can keep going
We can save this house
I feel gratitude
We survived
So did the house