Were it not for the fact that he had seen the death of his Father in the very same bed, then young Charlie Jones would probably have screamed, but as it had transpired through the night , upon the bed lay his Mother, peaceful, taken in her sleep.

He took a brush from the side and began to tidy up her hair.
"Gotta make you look your best for heaven Mum", tears welled up inside him, but he knew he had to be strong for now he was truly alone.

There was a knock at the door, Charlie heard nothing, attentive only to his Mums needs he ignored the outside world.

"I'm going to light a candle to see you on your way", he whispered into his Mum's ear,placing it at the foot of the bed, he turned and said a small prayer, after which he stood and spoke unto his Mum.
"I'll be back in a moment Mum, I need the toilet".

In his oblivious to everything else manner he made his way back around the bedroom and out towards the lavatory, not paying attention to the fact that the covers of the bed had been knocked within inches of the burning flame.

Cleaning himself in the bathroom he took a long look at himself in the mirror, and through the steam of the hot tap he could make out two other figures standing either side of him, it was Mum and Dad.

He turned abruptly, it was just his imagination, there was nobody there. Returning his focus to the mirror he could see the images once more, this time much clearer, and his Mother was offering out her hand in a gesture with a loving smile upon her face.

Once more he span around but nobody could be seen.

This was beginning to frighten Charlie, he unlocked the door to run back to his Mums bed, alas the route was blocked, smoke filled the passage and flames lept around the stairway, he couldn't get back to his Mum or down the stairs, he was trapped.

"I've got to save Mum from burning like this he thought - Its wrong that she does not receive a proper burial, her sole would be left in limbo".

Grabbing a wet facecloth he placed over his mouth and nose he charged through to his Mums Bedroom.

Flames appeared all around as he made his way to her bedside, but no woman lay there cold with death, instead a man and a woman, hand in hand lay there smiling at Charlie.

"Hello Son", they both echoed.

What was happening? Charlie was confused, "'But your both dead," he screamed.

"No baby, we're very much alive now, and we're going to make sure that you are never left alone again, we're going to take you away from the danger, give us your hand".

Confused but reassured in the same moment Charlie reached out his hand.

The moment he did so, the flames all disappeared, there were several people standing in the room, official looking and they were talking.

Charlie listened intently, "'It looks like the fire broke out in the bedroom during the night, and one of the victims, a Mrs Jones, tried to get herself and her son out of the window but must of become overcome by fumes and the pair of them collapsed on the bed".

Charlie was angry, what were they talking about - his Mum had been dead before the fire, and then he looked across to the bed, there lay the body of his mother, and underneath it was another body. It was his body !

He turned sharply as his Mothers voice whispered to him, "I didn't think we would find you in the fire, but your Father appeared to help you find your way back to us".

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