gasping

I headed out of town to visit the fam almost two weeks ago, not knowing that while I was gone, my living space would be attacked by an arsonist. The fire was extinguished thanks to a quick-thinking neighbor but the charred first-floor wreckage and toxic air throughout the building are a daily reminder of some person's reckless violence. The cleanup has begun, but this is how I come and go now, just to be on the safe(r) side.