Ethan Bauer writes:
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First there is fire, and only fire. Everything else stands still.
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The small red SUV, the man inside, the road around it â all freeze in place, save the orange glow and the whipping flames.
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Then come the people. They come running. Less quickly than you might expect, as if theyâre pondering what can be done as they get closer. They tap the windows. They pull on the doors. The driver is stuck. The fire grows. They pull harder. The doors wonât budge. More people come now. Seven, eight. Nine or 10 if you count those in the background. Black and white. Men and women. Young and old â they pull together. They pull harder still. They make no progress. The fire grows.
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The flames are only getting bigger. Hotter. Nastier. The entire car could explode any second. Little pieces of it are already detonating one by one. There are so many reasons not to run back. Another belch of flames only confirms it. They donât know this man. They donât have to help this man. Yet they do. Again and again and again.
Fragments of metal and plastic and glass spray their ankles and feet, and the bottom of the car burns like hot coals. They bear it. They stand in the middle of it. They finally pull the man out, and four of them scurry away with his body. They carry him out of view, while the car burns and burns, leaving only steel bones.
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Read more about the people willing to risk their lives to save a stranger from a fiery car.
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