Arthur was talking to Polly. She was telling him the fire was on the ground and the first floor. We were to stay put as the fire department was there. They were getting it under control and would be there to rescue us soon. She took his apartment number three times while I blocked the bottom of the door and helped him over to his bedroom which was the farthest from the front door.

Yes, it was hot. Yes, we could see the smoke outside the windows. No, we wouldn’t open a window, but I was pretty sure there was smoke forcing through the front door now.

I couldn’t see it, but I could smell it. It was thick and acrid, and I wrapped my arm around a shaking Arthur.

Polly kept talking to us, but it was all a blur. The smoke outside the window was getting thicker and thicker as it billowed into the sky. I was afraid to open the bedroom door just in case the fire had spread to the third floor now. I swore I saw the flash of flames licking at the sides of the building when I looked outside the last time.

What if I’d replaced those batteries like I should have? What if? What if I hadn’t been in the shower? Would I have noticed it sooner? What if I hadn’t been in my own little world—was there a chance I’d have heard the other alarms sooner? Smelled the smoke sooner?

Call me dramatic, but I couldn’t believe this was how I was going to die.

In a fire.

In my oldest cotton panties where the fabric had bobbled, and braless.

Awesome.

Joking was the only way I could stay calm. If I didn’t, I was going to panic, and that wouldn’t help anyone, least of all Arthur.

“Reagan? Can you hear me?” Polly’s voice cracked as the line broke.

“Yes!” I shouted.

“You need to go to the door and bang, okay? Smoke can obstruct the apartment doors. Use a wet cloth over your mouth to support your breathing. They’re entering the building now to get everyone out.”

I confirmed I would and took the phone from Arthur. One quick trip to the bathroom later and I had two cloths for us both. I handed one to Arthur to protect his mouth with and used the other for me.

He assured me they were clean, but I honestly didn’t care if they weren’t. If it was between a dirty face cloth or death, I’d pick the cloth.

I might regret it later, but at least I’d live to regret it.

Thick smoke was eking its way through the cracks around the sides of the door I couldn’t block off, and I told Polly that.

“Bang loud, Reagan, okay? Keep the cloth over your mouth and nose and do not move it. You don’t have to talk to me anymore. I’ll stay on the line until the firefighters have reached you. I’ll keep talking to you, but you tuck your phone into your bra and bang on the door.”