Chapter 72

• The crowd outside subsided, when the cops arrived, but I couldn't speak, I was too overwhelmed to and so Mycole did all the talking and answering. The cops also joined the firemen in their search for mom and they come out many minutes later and they had someone on the stretcher and I pull myself up to my feet away from Mycole and run to them. The body has been burnt beyond recognition and the only thing I was able to identify is the wedding ring still on mom's ring. I could spot the ring from anywhere because she's worn it always when I was growing up and never took it off. The men cover her hand up and roll her into the van. I cover my mouth and sob bitterly and Mycole who is standing beside me wraps his strong arms around me for support.
• The senior officer who had also joined in the search walks over to Mycole and me with drafted writing. "We found her in the kitchen, and she seems to have passed out before the fire went off."
• "Suffocated," Mycole says, mainly the man look at him in agreement.