No Escape

 

I awoke smelling smoke, jumped from bed, ran to the front door, and looked out. The ridge top road was ablaze. There was no escape. I quickly dressed, grabbed a flashlight, and headed out the back door. I ran downhill toward the valley floor through poison oak, over fallen branches, around trees, and through bushes, until I came to the road. I paused to breath. 

Then I saw flames in both directions. Again, no escape. I passed out. When I came to, Saint Peter was standing nearby and said “You’re a lucky man. No more flames for you.”