A Tiny Noise at Night

Today, I saved a life. Maybe more than one.

I didn't swoop in a save someone from being killed or stop a car accident or anything directly heroic.

I heard the high pitched ringing of a smoke detector after watching a movie and tried to figure out where the noise was coming from. It wasn't in my apartment so I checked outside and heard it coming from a neighbour's apartment. I heard a sizzling noise and smelled like a grease fire. I knocked a couple times and he didn't answer so I called 911. The neighbour above him came downstairs and we looked in on his balcony and saw some smoke but the alarm stopped. The alarm started again and the police arrived. They had to break the door down and drag him out.

I don't know what all else happened. I do not want fame or anything for checking on a man I didn't know. It was the right thing to do.

I never put myself in harms way. I didn't break his door down. But I know some of my neighbours are safe because I didn't ignore a tiny noise at night.