Part 15: Exit 2

As she made her way down the plush carpeted stairs, a familiar scent drifted into Randa’s nose. A smell she hadn’t encountered in what felt like ages, but a smell that brought her back to the night of the fire, when she found herself being pulled out of a dark black haze by the unfamiliar yet loving gloved hands of an old firefighter.

The stench reminded her of death.

She heard Nick sniffing from behind her. “Do you smell smoke?” He whispered.

*****

The light exploded and dark red flames began to seep through the walls above the sink and the stove. It lit the darkening kitchen in an eerie warm light. Even I could feel the heat beginning to grow, my soul began to feel intense heat, and I was not even of flesh. I stood up. I waited. They would come in any second.

*****

The two of them ran toward the kitchen. When Nick saw the way it was lighted by flames, he grabbed Miranda by the shoulders and held her back. A cupboard came crashing to the counter. The fire was spreading, it was so quick. The entire kitchen was in flames.

And Nick had the slightest inkling that there was someone in there. Someone he cared about. But he could not place who the person was.

“My house.” Randa said quietly, watching, mesmerized by the fire dancing before her eyes, flashing back to that dreaded night when the fire had stolen everything she ever cared about.

Nick grabbed her chin. “An extinguisher?” He asked, trying to snap her out of it.

“In there.” She said, still trance-like, nodding her head into the flaming kitchen.

It must have been in the pantry. It was so hot, he was sweating already, jewels crystallizing all over his naked body. Nick looked from side to side and finally swung into the flame lit kitchen, making his way toward the pantry. The bar was beginning to get scorched now as well. He could feel the flames grabbing at his skin, threatening to take him.

And out of the corner of his eyes, he saw a figure, a woman with long flowing black hair and finally he knew who she was.

*****

Waves crashed against the smooth sand. It was dark, but the stars, the millions of bright stars lit the black night sky. Aurora borealis streaked amazing colors back and forth and I stood where the ocean met the land and watched him, running in cut off khaki pants and an sleeveless white button down shirt, hair billowing in all directions, toward me. He stopped out of breath.

“Aurora.” He said, his chest heaving with short breath, and looked at me. “Look at the sky.”

I looked up, smiling to the heavens, at the beauty and wonder of creation.

To most it would seem unfair that he had the choice of his second exit now. But that was where it had to be. He had wanted to take his own life only months ago, and now he could come home as he pleased. He could come home.

With me.

And we could be together forever.

But it was his choice.

He lowered his head slowly, looking far off at the ocean. “I’m afraid, Sunshine.” I touched his cheek with my hand and he turned his head to look me in the eyes. He gulped, piercing blue-green eyes into mine. “The smoke…she’s all alone and the smoke…she could…she could die.”

It was so innocent, so nakedly loving and earnest. And although my whole being ached at the thought of being without him once again, I knew that he had made his choice, that he was just coming back to tell me.

“Live.” I told him.

He put his hands in his pockets and walked slowly back up the beach. When he got about 20 feet away, he turned and looked at me. “You’ll be right here?” He said it like a child, the child that I had nurtured and cared for since the time he was born. The child who would change the world with a melody. The child who had so much more he could do, so much love he could give.

“Always.” I told him. The words vibrated to Nick’s body. And he began running again. Back. Back to Miranda.

*****

“Nick.” It was a helpless scream.

Miranda had fallen, weak, to the floor. How could it have happened so quickly? The fire had started only minutes ago. She was so dizzy. The smoke was so thick. She hated this smoke.

Nick turned, the flames still attempting to grab at his body. They were now blocking the way out to her. Instinctively, Nick hit the pantry with his elbow, with all his strength. Once, twice, three times, and it finally came crashing in. He reached through the splintered wood and somehow found the extinguisher.

He blew a white foamy path in front of him, shielding his eyes from the red hands that reached for him. And finally he came to her and wrapped his body around her own, lifting her off the ground.

Nick began to run, holding onto Miranda as she coughed. He grabbed a blanket on the way out and when they got to the beach, he wrapped them both in it, and they watched as the cottage was consumed by a bright yet dark enemy.

Randa sobbed into his chest. “Are you OK?” He asked her.

“I am now.” She said, her voice muffled into him. “I thought I had lost you. That I had found you and then lost you.”

“We’ll start new. You and me.” He told her, rubbing her back gently. “Don’t worry, Miranda. I’m here now. We’ll take care of each other. I’ll take care of you.” He kissed her lightly on the head.

The sirens of the fire trucks filled the night air.

Epilogue
Spirit Guide

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