Page 43 of Emma on Fire

When she picks up her phone, she sees 232 new texts. Classmates—neighbors—cousins she hasn’t seen in years: everyone’s writing. They beg to know what’s going on, urge her to text them back, or tell her in all caps,DON’T DO IT.

Is yr dad gone?writes Jade.Call meNOW.

Thomas writes,lunch—meet me at the field LY.

“LY” stands for “love you.”

She’s about to read a text from Elliott when the battery dies.

“Shit,” Emma says.

“Everything okay?” Olivia asks as she brushes her long, soft hair.

No, Olivia, everything is not okay. Would you like me to tell you all the ways in which everything is fucked?

“Yeah, totally.” Emma slides her computer out of her backpack. “Have you seen my phone charger? Or my computer cord?”

Olivia shakes her head, watching the effect in the mirror as her perfect curls toss.

Emma realizes that the cops probably took them, just in case she considered strangling herself with one of them.

She opens her laptop. Her battery is at 35 percent, and her heart is pounding. Time to see how far her message has reached.

She clicks over to her second YouTube video, which she reposted under a new account a mere hour after Mr. Hastings made her take it down. The views are staggering. In disbelief, Emma scrolls down through hundreds of comments. A lot of people are urging her to get help. Others are offering her matches.

You’re an inspiration,writes GalaxieStar.

I wish i was brave as u,says tommyboy09.

Get outta here while youcan.

Will u be my gf?

I feel ubae—i’m catchin the bustoo.

Emma doesn’t know what “catching the bus” means, but she thinks it’s funny that some random person called her “bae.”

A charger drops with a clunk on Emma’s desk. “Here,” Olivia says, “use mine.”

“Thanks,” Emma says woodenly. She plugs in her phone and watches as it comes back to life.

Another text comes in with a ding. It’s from a number she doesn’t recognize.Google emma on fire, it says.

CHAPTER 30

EMMA ON FIRE

Teen announces self-immolation intention

Odell, NH

April 14, 2025

by Rachel Daley, special to the Boston Globe

Yesterday morning, I met the girl whose name is on the lips of concerned parents, climate activists, and teenage influencers alike: Emma Blake.

Unless you live under an actual rock, you know her name too. She’s the seventeen-year-old Ridgemont Academy junior who’s pledged to self-immolate in protest of the state of the world.

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