Present
Something behind me cracks and breaks, making a sharp noise that brings me back to the present. As the last twenty-five years of my life flash before my eyes, I realize that I don’t have a single memory without Mia in it. Everything I am, everything I want to be, centers around her.
I start coughing uncontrollably, the smoke getting thicker around me.
“Does. Anyone. Copy?” I try again, struggling with each word. I’m met with more silence.
Fucking mountain.
I look above me and the sky is almost solid black. In my zoned-out state, I didn’t notice it creeping up on me. This could be bad.
Checking my chest, I see my emergency beacon is still flashing. Where the hell are you guys? With each second that passes, the chances of me making it out of here are dwindling. I’ve got to move again.
“Urghh!” I grunt out as I use energy I didn’t know I had to drag myself some more. My body doesn’t hurt nearly as bad as it used to, but I know it’s messed up beyond belief. If the initial fall didn’t do it, me moving all over this godforsaken mountain surely did. Fuck, this is bad.
My chest hurts as I continue to cough; the taste of smoke in the back of my mouth. After pulling myself for a little while longer, I lift my head and see another ledge not too far away. If I can get myself to it, maybe it’ll give me a better picture of the situation here.
My legs are useless.
They only serve as an anchor as I use every muscle in my arms and shoulders to drag my heavy body across the dirt.
Any progress forward is a huge milestone. The exertion causes me to pant and cough until I’m completely out of breath, which makes this that much more difficult.
I pause to take a break.
The ledge feels like a mile away and I’m not sure I have the energy to go any further. My breaths are labored, polluting my lungs with the poison in the air. My eyes squeeze shut and I grit my teeth, preparing myself to move some more.
I’m not sure how long it takes me to reach the ledge. All I know is every bump, every twig, every rock in my path is a huge obstacle to crawl across. My chest is raw from the abuse I’ve put it through. Lifting my head one more time, I look out over the edge and my heart sinks, as does hope.
Fire stretches as far as the eye can see.
I guess it whipped around and started burning up toward this way. Now it’s coming at me from all sides. Unless they get a helicopter out here fast to evacuate me, I don’t know I’ll survive this.
With the last bit of energy in my reserves, I roll myself onto my back and stare up at the sky. What should be a sunny day is tainted by the waves of smoke blowing in all directions, creating a dark shadow over everything.
“This is. Blake Collins. Can. Anyone. Hear me?” My voice is hoarse as I try again to reach someone on the radio. Speaking makes me cough again, and I can’t stop. I cough until I gag, then cough some more. The heat is getting more intense, making it hard to forget I’m getting boxed in.
God, please, let me make it out of this. Don’t take me from Mia or the kids. I need them. Please, just get me out of here.
Tears leak from the corners of my eyes despite my lack of hydration as soon as I see the first flame. It gets harder and harder to bring oxygen into my body, but the wheezing is drowned out by the approaching fire.
I close my eyes and picture Mia one more time.
The shy girl with her shiny blonde hair and princess dress who moved in when we were six.
The girl who gave me my first kiss.
The girl who showed me what true, unconditional love was.
The girl who gave me two beautiful children to adore and spoil.
The girl I envisioned growing gray and old with.
God, I’m going to miss so much. Birthdays, Michael’s first day of school, walking Aubrey down the aisle.
I’ll miss everything.
No, I’m not ready to go! I need her. I need them. There’s so much I haven’t gotten to do with them yet. I take a deep breath, choking on it as it hits my lungs. Mia has always been the stronger of the two of us. Ever since we were teenagers, she helped me through hard times. She was there when my dad died, she pulled me out of my self-destruction with alcohol when Gary died, and she held it together when I was terrified Michael wouldn’t survive. She doesn’t realize it, but our family is solid because of her.
Panic retreats as a sense of calm and acceptance comes over me. I close my eyes, letting this feeling engulf me. I gave it my all, but it wasn’t enough. However, with her strength, I know she’ll continue to take care of our family the way she always has, and that makes this a little easier even though my very soul is dying inside.
It’s going to be alright.
She’ll be okay.
She’ll make it through this.
“You were my first, Mia.”
“And my last.”