Page 124 of Love Unavoidable

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ME: I don’t understand. What does that mean?

ME: Can I call you?

SADIE: I don’t think that’s a good idea either. Take care, Ethan. I wish you well.

Take care, Ethan? I wish you well?

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What in the actual fuck?

The alarm sounds throughout the station at the same time that our pagers vibrate. The timing couldn’t be worse. Brad and I rush to our truck to get things together and head out on a call. We are only six hours into a forty-eight-hour shift, so this is looking like it will be a long couple of days. Especially if I can’t get my brain to turn off where Sadie is concerned and whatever she meant bytake care.

We get to the site in a matter of minutes. It’s a two-alarm fire, two-story building, commercial on the first floor and residential on the second. The fire originated near the only stairwell on the second floor, trapping the occupants. Thick, black smoke billows from the back of the building with flames just poking through a side window. Brad and I grab ladders and move toward the windows furthest from the smoke to see if we can get the people out.

I climb to the top where the windows are small, but I can see three people inside, a woman and two children. The kids are both crying and it’s clear that the woman is trying to stay calm. I motion for them to step back, then use my Halligan to break the glass and try to widen the opening by hacking at the sill. When it’s large enough for the children, I have her pass me the smallest one first. I take the child, a boy, maybe two years old, still in diapers, and hand him down to one of the guys below the ladder. He passes him off to a paramedic, and they rush him to the rig. Same process with the girl who looks to be about six years old.

The window will need to be larger for the woman. She’s not big, by any means, but she still will not fit. Brad and I work methodically, tearing at paneling and insulation, letting it fall away below us. The woman waits, so patient it’s almost eerie. Most people are in a near panic at this point. The smoke is thick and the fire is at the doorway of her room, while her children are off with strangers. Fire rescue personnel, but still strangers.

When it’s safe, I motion her toward me and she rushes forward, practically jumping into my arms. I grab the splintering window frame to stabilize us as the ladder rocks back.

“You good?” Brad yells through the radio. I nod in response, then take a second to make sure we really are okay. She yells a raspy thank you as we reach the ground then rushes to the medical rig to check on her children.

I extend my ladder as Brad grabs the chainsaw and we make our way to the roof to vent. There are already guys on the backside of the building with a hose and guys heading in through the front with another. I use my prod in front of me to make sure the roof is still intact as we move along looking for the right place to cut. I stand back and wait for Brad to cut the square from the roof. The fire rumbles below us, causing the structure to shake. The portion that Brad cuts doesn’t immediately fall away from the rest of the roof, so I punch at it with my prod while Brad makes another cut through the middle.

The portion I’m standing on crumbles below me, it happens so fast, the next thing I know I’m falling. Crashing into the disintegrating second story floor, and continuing through, finally landing on the ground floor.

When I open my eyes next, I’m on the ground.What the fuck happened?I try to focus, my vision is fuzzy. Maybe that’s smoke. I can’t tell.

I fell, I think. I was with Brad.

I remember.

I was with Brad, we were venting the roof, I fell through.

Fuck.

I’ve got to get up, get out of here. I can’t move. Why can’t I move? Oh fuck, pain. So much pain. Is that my arm? It shouldn’t be bent like that.

I lift my head.