"Open the door! Now!" Lucia shouted, her voice laced with frustration. "The fire trucks will take forever! Can't you understand? It's a life! Your husband's life! How can you just stand there?"
"You venomous woman! Are you trying to kill my son?" Evelyn shrieked, her hand a blur as she lunged to slap me. I quickly moved out of the way.
"I'm not trying to kill him," I explained calmly. "But I'm not a firefighter. I can't put out that fire. Going in would be suicide."
Our argument caught the attention of the onlookers, who had gathered to watch the fire. Some of them pulled out their phones and began recording or live-streaming the scene.
Noticing this, Evelyn turned to the crowd and shouted, "Look at her! My son is in there and she won't open the door to save him! Isn't she heartless? Evil? Oh... my son!"
Lucia grabbed my arm then, her nails digging sharply into my skin. She shook me roughly, her face close to mine as she spat out her words.
"Did you two fight? Is that why you're doing this?" Her voice dropped, low and angry. "Do you want him to die? Is that what you want, Maya?"
I yanked my arm free, the sting lingering where her nails had bitten in. My face remained impassive.