At seven in the morning, I woke up to the frantic barking of my dog, who was doing everything possible to rouse meand then I saw something terrifying.
This morning, something happened to me that Ill never forget.
It was just before seven. Outside, the quiet stillness of early morning lingered, and I was relishing a rare day off. After yesterday, I was completely drainedtoo exhausted even for my usual morning walk with the dog. Id been dead to the world, lost in a dream where everything was calm and ordinary.
Then I felt something heavy pressing on my chest. Half-asleep, I cracked my eyes openmy dog was right there, paws planted on me, staring intently into my face.
What do you want? I mumbled, closing my eyes again, figuring he was just hungry or wanted to go out.
But he didnt leave. Instead, he started pawing at me insistently, licking my cheek and whining softly, as if pleading. I still didnt understand why he was being so persistent. When I ignored him, he suddenly barked right in my ear, then jumped onto the bed and began barking loudersharp, urgent, with a frantic edge.
Thats when I opened my eyes again and noticed something strange. Then it finally hit me why my dog was acting so oddly.
I opened my eyes and caught a sharp, acrid smell. At first, I couldnt place it. But after a few seconds, my brain clickedsmoke. And it was getting stronger.
I bolted upright, my heart pounding so hard I could feel it in my temples. I leaped out of bed, barefoot, and sprinted into the hallwayonly to freeze.
Thick grey smoke was creeping down the corridor, already seeping into my room. And in the living room, flames were ragingdevouring half the space with greedy crackles, sparks flying.
The dog stood beside me, barking at the fire, then back at me, as if urging, *Hurry!*
I grabbed my phone, fingers trembling as I dialled 999, and without wasting a second, ran out of the flat with him.
Only once we were safely outside, gasping for air, did it sink inif not for him, Id still be asleep and might not have woken up at all.
Later, it came out that Id been ironing last night and, dead on my feet, forgotten to unplug it. The iron had been left on a pile of clothes. Thats what started the fire.
I remembered none of it. But my doghed smelled the smoke before I did and did everything to wake me.
If not for him I might not be here to tell this story.
