My Writing: Short Pieces Of Narrative

When I applied for Manchester Met University, I had to write a paragraph of Narrative from the point of view of three different characters. We had to write about them and fire. I chose to write about there being a fire and the characters are in different situations. In the end I went to Sheffield Hallam instead to Manchester, but I decided to share the narrative with you lovely people. 

A Business Man 

I watched as the flames consumed the building that I had lived in for 10 years; as all my years of hard work and determination was devoured by the furious flames that climbed higher and higher. I’m supposed to be organised, helpful, a leader, but here on the ground, watching my home burn to ash. I feel helpless and disorientated. All I see is despair and devastation. All I smell is burning and all I hear is the helpless cries of a young couple whose daughter is trapped in the ignited building. Their cries won’t help her, but I don’t tell them to be quiet. I just stare into the flames and hope that, that little girl is okay.

A Homeless Man 

I followed the sound of the fire engines, to see an apartment block on fire. I remember when fire had consumed the home I had once lived in. It was devastating. To see all these helpless people losing their homes.  The flames shone a fiery glow on the residents of their now ablaze home. They stood, looking from a distance; freezing, alone, scared, ejected involuntarily from their beds. The flames were fighting against the brave firemen, determined to live, to thrive, and to survive in this world. That’s when I see them, the young couple who always stopped to help me when they passed, crying out for their daughter. Their daughter, who was trapped in the claws of this devouring demon.

A Small Child 

The dragon came in the night, blowing hot fire into my home. I awoke scared, feeling the heat rising into my bedroom. I knew I had to escape, away from this monster who wants to take everything away from me and lock me away like the princess he used to guard before the prince stole her away. It’s scary.  I just want my mummy; I want to get far away from the monster. I hear the shouting, the screaming coming from the darkness. I want my mummy. Is she here, or has that beast taken her too?

© Sarah Kaye Hancock