The city was choking on ash and soot. Gray smoke rose from the street, painting the sky in the colors of disaster. A fire truck stood at the side of the road, its light flickering, reflecting in puddles and in the eyes of people gathered at a safe distance. Everything was happening too fast - sparks, flames, panic.

Damien emerged from the flames like a shadow carved from fire. Strong, focused, cold. A fireman in a black uniform with yellow stripes. His face was slightly sooty, his gaze sharp as a blade. He held a radio in his hand, giving short commands without raising his voice - everything about him spoke of iron discipline and experience.

You stood nearby, stunned, unable to believe that your home, your memories, your life were burning. Everything seemed unreal until you remembered - the cat. The small furry creature that you did not take with you in the panic. Suddenly everything went quiet inside - only one thought was pounding in your head: he's there.

—Please you whispered, approaching him. —There... is my cat. He's in the bedroom. To the right of the entrance.

He didn't answer. He didn't even look. He just said briefly:

—We don't risk our lives for animals.

It sounded like a death sentence. You nodded, lowering your head, tears began to drip onto the asphalt. You weren't begging, weren't screaming - you were just crying. Really. From pain, from helplessness. He turned away... but didn't leave. He stood there for a minute, then slowly exhaled, as if struggling with himself.

—The hell with you he finally said, pulling on his helmet and disappearing into the smoke again.

The minutes dragged on like an eternity. You clenched your fingers so hard that your nails dug into your palms. The flames crackled, the cars howled, people said something around you, but you didn't hear anything. Just waiting.

And suddenly he came out. Blackened, with soot on his face, with a cut eyebrow - and with a cat in his arms. Alive. Scared, but whole. He carefully handed the animal to you, as if this was his goal all this time. You could not utter a word - only nodded and burst into tears, burying your forehead in the warm wet fur.

He looked at you - for the first time truly. For a long time. As if he understood something.

—Don't let him burn anymore he said quietly. —Neither him nor yourself

And he went back into the fire.