I used to live in Pompeii with my wife Mika, and our three daughters, Selene, Annabelle and Eunice. A very happy family, we were occasionally taking trips to the main regions of Campania and the areas within, without and around the city.

On these picnics we would just have long, cheery conversations and eat fruits and whatnot, and also plan the next venue for our outings. Having visited all the areas surrounding our home and a little bit around it, we decided to set our sights a bit farther; to Herculaneum, to Oplontis, and as far as Stabiae. It took our happy family of five 2 years and 8 months to tour the three cities; and by the time we were done, the zeal to travel was not lost. We decided to head back home for a brief recline, and then set out for our greatest adventure yet!

We had planned a picnic at the top of Mount Vesuvius.

Suffice to say we were all stoked for it, and we prepared everything, breakfast, in-betweens, brunch, and lunch. And so it was, that on the 24th day of August, AD 79, we started out on the near 20-mile hike up Mount Vesuvius.

We reached the mountain top 13 hours after we began our journey upwards, and even with fatigue, began celebrations, for it was a great achievement our family had made, and just then the mountain spewed it's guts.

I do not recall much afterwards. I only have blurry memories, of Mika curled up on the floor, shielding Eunice, her back against the hot lava spilling from the sky, and of Annabelle's futile efforts at running away from the hot liquid. I was holding my last daughter in my arms.

You see, she was my favorite, my sweet Selene. I sang slowly to her as the heat separated our skins from the bones, and that's what I recall of how I left this realm, my friend.

You've read my tale, so tell me yours. How did you die?