**Chapter 12: Sleepy Sister**

As we walked through the gates of the school, I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief wash over me. We had made it to the half of the school that wasn't on fire, and we were all safe. My mom was on her way back home, but the rest of us were together, and that was all that mattered. The smell of smoke and sweat filled the air, and the sound of sirens echoed in the distance. Beyoncé Ariana put a reassuring arm around me, and we walked together, trying to process what had just happened. My siblings and I were all in shock, still trying to wrap our heads around the chaos that had erupted. My niece Kataya and nephew KJ were clinging to Beyoncé Ariana's legs, their eyes big with uncertainty. Keontay and Darnell were trying to comfort Kyah, who was visibly shaken. As we made our way through the crowded hallways, we ran into my cousins Jamar and Miss Jamia, who were relieved to see us. "Hey, guys!" Jamar exclaimed, his eyes shining with excitement. "We were so worried about you! We saw the fire and thought the worst." Miss Jamia nodded in agreement, her eyes scanning our faces for any signs of distress. My cousin Miss Jamia nodded in agreement. "We were trying to find you, but it was chaos. Are you okay?" I nodded, still trying to wrap my head around the events that had just transpired. "Yeah, we're fine. But Mom had to go back home." I explained the situation, and my cousins listened intently, their faces filled with concern. As we talked, I noticed that my cousin's little sister, who I assumed was Jamia's sibling, was still sleeping on the floor. Jamar tried to wake her up, but she just rolled over and continued sleeping. "Let me try," Miss Jamia said, kneeling down beside her sister. She gently shook her awake, and the little girl slowly opened her eyes. The little girl rubbed her eyes, still looking groggy. "I was so tired," she mumbled. Jamar smiled and hugged her. "We're glad you're okay, cuz." Miss Jamia smiled weakly. "We're just glad you're okay." As we stood there, trying to make sense of the chaos, I felt a sense of gratitude. We were all safe, and that was all that mattered. My family and cousins were together, and we would get through this, as long as we had each other. The scene was chaotic, with people running, shouting, and crying in all directions. But we finally started to calm down, and my cousins and I started to talk about what had happened. We shared stories and tried to comfort each other, trying to make sense of the fire and its aftermath. The sound of sirens was getting closer and closer, and I could see the fire trucks pulling up to the scene. As the commotion died down, and the firefighters started to gain control of the situation, I felt a sense of peace wash over me. We had made it through the worst of it, and now it was time to focus on the present. We would deal with the aftermath of the fire later; for now, we just needed to be together. My eyelids started to droop, and I felt my head nodding forward. The world around me started to blur, and I felt myself being pulled into a dream. I was vaguely aware of my cousins and siblings talking and laughing, but it was all distant, like I was underwater. I tried to fight it, but my body felt heavy, and my breathing slowed. I was falling asleep, and I couldn't do anything to stop it. As my eyes closed, I felt a sense of drifting away, like I was floating on a cloud. I was safe, and that was all that mattered. My family and cousins were with me, and we would face whatever came next together. And with that thought, I slipped into a deep sleep.