It was August, and George was as far away as he’d been that summer, all the way up in the Northwest Territories, where more than two hundred and thirty fires were burning through boreal forests. The wind had picked up, and the hamlet of Enterprise had turned to coals in the flames—evacuation orders were being given throughout the territory. George was in Yellowknife, and I was terrified. He seemed so calm when he answered the anchor’s questions on the news, but we were speaking all the time, and I knew he was exhausted. He fell asleep and dreamed of fire. He woke smelling of ash.
George had always been untouchable. I told myself he’d be okay—that he wouldn’t do anything to put himself truly at risk. And then my phone rang.
“Hey,” I answered. “Everything okay?”
“Frankie, thank god you picked up. I’m on the highway, trying to get the hell out of here. There’s fire everywhere. And thesmoke. It’s so dark, Frankie. It’s as dark as night.” I’d never heard George sound so panicked, so afraid.
He swore.
“George? What’s happening? Are you okay?” I paced around my apartment, my heart in my throat.
“An ember just landed on the car. The fucking paint on the hood is bubbling. There’s fire all down the highway. Vehicles in the ditch. I don’t know. If I don’t make it—”
I shook my head, tears welling. “Stop. Don’t you dare say what you’re going to say next, George Saint James.”
“Frankie, I don’t know if I’ll—”
“No,” I interrupted. “You are driving out of that fire, and you are coming home to me. And then no more fires. Promise me, George.”
“No more fires. I promise. If I—”
“Noifs, George. This is not how our story ends. We are friends forever. You need to come back home to me.”
“Frankie, listen to me. I need you to really hear me, okay? I love you. You have meant everything to me.”
“George, no.” I was sobbing.
“I love you so much,” he said. “I wish I could tell you to your face, so you know how much I mean it.”
“I know you mean it. I know you do. I love you, too.” I took a deep breath. “But I need you to hang up the phone, George. I need you to drive. I need you to come home.”
He showed up at my apartment two weeks later. I cried at the sight of him. George was safe. He let me put my arms around him. When I’d collected myself, we went into the kitchen and made ravioli together. As the evening turned to night, he seemedto withdraw. I tried to get him to talk to me about the fire, but he avoided answering my questions. After dinner, he told me he was tired, so I made a bed for him on my sofa. The next morning, he hardly said a word after breakfast. He left before midday to drive home and visit Mimi.
George had returned to me unharmed, but something was very wrong.
AUGUST 28, 2023
To: George Saint James
From: Frankie Gardiner
Subject: Your visit
George,
Are you okay? I’m worried about you. I can only imagine what you went through in Yellowknife, and I know how hard this summer has been. You’ve borne witness to more devastation than any one person could possibly handle.
I just want you to know that I’m here for you if you ever want to talk about it. I don’t know what I’d do if I lost you.
Can I see you when you’re back from the Big House?
Frankie
AUGUST 29, 2023
To: Frankie Gardiner
From: George Saint James
