A Burning House by Anonymous

I read a quote once that said 

“When you're born in a burning house you think the whole world is on fire, but it’s not” 

I never really thought my house was burning 

I mean I always had two, 

two houses, 

two beds, 

two front doors, 

two birthdays 

As a kid I thought I had it all 

I didn’t see anything wrong with this way of life because it was all I ever knew 

My parents didn’t love each other 

but they loved me

they made sure to tell me often 

My mom was born in a burning house 

We talk about it sometimes 

How she couldn't escape the fire 

So that’s where we still live today 

I can still smell the rising smoke in the kitchen 

Strangling my lungs

I idolize my dad for putting out the fire 

But his house still has water damage 

We don’t really talk about what caused the fire 

Or how he extinguished it

I started dating boys and they are covered in ash and soot too

they remind me of my dad 

I wonder who started the fire

I never really thought I was born in a burning house, but whenever I meet someone new, 

I wonder if their house went up in flames too

And if they ever made it onto the fire escape