Reclaiming Home

When the Smoke Cleared: Finding Safety Again

We never think it’ll be our home. I was finishing up a CBT activity when I heard a noise—nothing alarming, just something odd. I thought it was the cats. Five minutes later, I smelled it. Fire.

I rushed upstairs to the bathroom as fast as I physically could, despite my health challenges. There was a fire at the small trashcan between the tub and the toilet. I hopped into the tub, turned on the water, and started splashing it onto the fire. A part of the ceiling had fallen down, creating another small fire and spreading to the bath rug. I had to put that fire out too.

I was barefoot, with wet pants and socks. The lights had gone out. But somehow—I acted fast. I didn’t freeze. I moved. And then I woke Anthony.

He panicked. and I called 911. He made sure the cats were safe.

And somehow—we were in some ways, but not in all.

I was shaken, but grateful we were not harmed.

The Feelings Cycle: Fear, Then Relief

In moments like these, Fear hits first and hard. But so does Hope—the kind that shows up after the worst has passed.

We were safe. Our cats were safe. Our home, though damaged, still stood. And as the firefighters left, I felt something deeper than relief. I felt gratitude.

Not just because we were okay, but because I knew this moment—this Fast-moving emergency—would become a marker in our story. A sign that we didn’t give in to panic. That we moved together. That even when things went dark, we stayed grounded.

Rebuilding Our Peace

Since then, we’ve been doing what we can. Cleaning. Reorganizing. Waiting for repairs to what was burned and what was shaken. But more than anything, we’re reclaiming peace.

This wasn’t just a house scare—it was a reset. A call to reevaluate what makes us feel safe, calm, and at home.

To Anyone Who’s Been Through It

If you’ve ever experienced a fire or a moment where safety suddenly vanished—you are not alone.
You don’t have to minimize it just because it could’ve been worse.
Your fear, your grief, your caution—it’s all valid.

But so is your strength. So is your right to rebuild.

Written by: Jacquelyn U
Posted: May 13, 2025