When I got out of Martha's car on arrival at the hospital, the first thing I did was run to my father's floor. It didn't even occur to me to say thank you to Martha; I was just desperate to report back to him on all that I had found out.

I zig zagged through the corridors, trying in vain to avoid the hospital staff until I reached the lift that took me to my father's floor. I wasn't even patient enough for the slow machine to ascend- however part of the reason was because I had to listen to the awful 'relaxing' music.

When the lift door finally opened, I launched myself at the wall and bounced off it like a deflated balloon; pushing myself from wall to wall until I got to his ward.

And he wasn't there.

"No. No!" I cried, after all of the hurrying I had been through.

"Allora? Is that you?" I turned to the familiar posh voice and gave 'a look' at my father's doctor.

"Your father is quite safe, I assure you; nothing to worry about. He is in good hands."

"Where is he?" I made no attempt to hide my anger.

"He is in the isolation unit right at this moment; we have discovered that he has suffered from brain damage."

"How is that possible? We were all asleep!" I was utterly bewildered.

"Your father and your mother were actually both awake during the fire, which is why they have been sleeping for so long, because their exhaustion has worn them out."

"Can I see him?" Even though he was in an isolation unit, I was desperate to see him. I wanted to tell him all that I had learned.

"Not right at this moment, I'm afraid. He is still settling in to his new surroundings. You can, however, speak to your mother? She woke up while you were gone."

My voice was taken from me. My mother was awake. She was alive and not in a coma.

"I thought you'd be grateful for some good news. Come with me." She smiled and beckoned me to follow her.

***

Mother did indeed look exhausted. She had large dark circles under her eyes, and bruises all the way up her arms. Her face was red and blotchy and her eyes were slightly bloodshot as if she hadn't slept for months.

"Allora..." She looked relieved to see me alive. I embraced her gently, for I was conscious of her injuries.
"Thank goodness you are okay, I have been worried sick. Are you okay?" She asked softly,

"I have a few scratches and burns, nothing much. What about you? You look like you've been dragged through hell!" Mother was the sort of person who liked it when I used 'grown up language' such as hell. Don't ask me why, she just believed it made me sound more mature.

"I'm fine, I'm fine. I'm just glad to be alive." She smiled with difficulty, but it was a smile nonetheless.
"I have to have numerous blood tests throughout my three months of recovery... but when I am through with it, I will be as good as new." Her smile faded for some reason.

"Why are you sad? I thought you'd be delighted to be healthy?"

"Oh... I am... I just- it's your father, Al. I'm worried about him. He is in the isolation unit, I have been told. They told me everything."

"Oh, mother I'm so scared for him! How has he damaged his brain? That's impossible! It was only a fire! And... and why were you awake? You should have called for help!" I said all in one breath trying to get all of my questions off my chest at once. For a 15 year old, I had moments where I acted like a 5 year old. I guess it was the atmosphere of the hospital and the anxiety in my chest for my parents.

"I... don't remember much because I've been unconscious for so long. I remember smelling something burning and waking your father up. He started to panic and he tried to flee the house but he tripped and severely banged his head on some sort of electronic device like the straighteners. The straighteners fell off of its stand and... I don't know what happened I just remember it burst into flame. Your father was unconscious at this point and so before the flames could harm him I had to cradle him and take him to the cupboard. I heard you scream and I was so scared for you- but there was nothing I could do! The flames were demolishing everything in sight! All I can remember is getting a strong smell of smoke and slowly falling asleep. The next thing I know, I'm in a hospital with my daughter and my husband is nowhere in sight!"

"I can't believe this has happened." My head shook with shame.

"All I want to know is how it happened."

I didn't have the guts to tell her most of the causes of the fire belonged to me. I bit my lip with fear and I didn't realise my mother was still watching me.

"There is something wrong. What is it? What are you hiding from me?" She reached out to stroke my cheek with the back of her hand as a sign to say 'I won't be upset'. The next thing I knew I was spilling everything I had been told about so that she therefore carried my burden.

"Oh Allora, how could this have happened? What were you doing?"

I told her how I had invited my friends over for dinner when she was out on a work trip and I wanted to show off my new gadgets. Being the clumsy person I am, I must've forgotten to turn everything off. Mother didn't seem upset, she just tutted with sympathy.

"You must be so careful with these things, Al. You are a silly goose."
I didn't understand how she could be so happy. I was pleased that she used childish nicknames to bring back innocence that had been lost.

"What... how are you so cheerful about this?" Her smile drooped into a frown.

"It's your father Allora. The doctors have said you can't approach him anymore."