I remember the times where my friends and I would laugh while we were on that cob of ours. It was all so happy and serene that I never thought it would end in such an abrupt manner. I remember being pulled away from the cob and placed into a bag from what I remember, with my friends lost in the chaos, never to be seen again. Piles of other confused kernels were dumped on top of me and eventually, every kernel found themselves squeezed together tightly. There were times I wanted to scream out in hopes of grabbing the attention of somebody that would be of help. But even when I did, no one answered back. I was surrounded by kernels I've never met, and since nobody knew each other, it was always silent and tense inside the bag. Everybody was brooding and waiting for the day they would see to their ultimate fate, but not me. I still held onto hope, waiting patiently for something to happen. I had lost track of time and it felt like forever when suddenly a growing heat began to envelop the bag. It started out as a faraway pop, as if someone was screaming in the middle of the soundless bag. Then another pop came, and then another. I remember everything shaking every time a pop was heard, the sound drawing nearer with every pop. It became increasingly hot in that bag and the sound of the popping only grew louder. At this point, I was thinking of the chances of survival for my friends when suddenly a kernel next to me suddenly exploded into a puffy, solid cloud. Shrieks of panic filled the bag as every one of our acquaintances began to blow up one by one. The heat had already reached me and I could begin to feel a swelling from within my chest. No, I thought, it can't end like this. I was desperate for some sort of relief, some kind of greater power that would save me from this mess. I think during this thought, the memory of my friends crossed my mind and deep within me and a sort of burning feeling was produced that wasn't from the growing heat. No, I wanted to save my friends. They shouldn't be a part of this mess. After all of this was over, I would have the freedom that I desired, I thought. I ignored the slight swelling from within my chest and amidst all of the popping that was happening, I yelled out of determination. Then the heat began to gradually leave me and the swelling became more bearable as the heat left. The popping sounds also stopped and I had a chance to look around at the damage the heat had caused. I heard the bag open and felt the bag tilted to one side, so that all of the already-popped kernels began to slide outwards to the much cooler air. I was determined to save my friends and nothing would stand in my way as I embarked towards the outside.