Smoke

It was a track fire. Someone had thrown a cigarette onto the tracks from above the streets. The vents were open that day. It was Monday morning, and as usual, it was crowded on the subway. A man and his daughter were waiting for the train to arrive. It was quiet for a moment, but then smoke came out of no where. People started to panic. There were screams everywhere. The man held on to his daughter's hand tightly, afraid she might disappear among the smoke and crowd. People were rushing in every direction. The smoke grew thicker. The man grabbed his daughter and held her in his arms. She was not breathing very well. Her asthma was causing her breathing to be erratic.


He slowly moved around in the crowd. The exit sign glowed in the smoke but there were too many people rushing towards it. The man went the other direction, to the other side of the platform. Many people were there too, but the man managed to move among them. His daughter, now heavily guarded by his arms, had her eyes half close. He held her face against him as to shield her from the smoke. It was useless. A few minutes elapsed, and her eyes were closed now. The man tried once again to move among the crowd.


The smell was devastating and smoke were appearing everywhere. People all around him were either coughing or making strange, whimpering sounds. He looked around but found no one who can help him. His daughter was now unconscious in his arms. He felt helpless and wished the evil clouds around him just vanished.


At last the smoke clear up a little and he saw a line of people in police uniforms motioning people to go a certain direction. He walked towards them. At last the exit was clearing. He followed other people out of the subway and out into the streets. There were emergency cars in every direction. Paramedics were treating people in various state of consciousness. He walked over to a woman with a stethoscope around her neck and asked her if she can check his daughter. She was breathing very slowly in his arms. He was afraid he might lose her. Tears streaked down his face as he spoke. 'Help' he said over and over. He placed his daughter in the paramedic's arms and collapsed into unconsciousness.


"You all-right, Dad?".
When he woke, he found his daughter awake and smiling at him with a mask covering her mouth. The vehicle was moving. He held out his hand to her and felt her warm hands in his. He can relax now. Now that the smoke had gone. Now that his family is safe.