‘It’s fine. I want to go over the cabin again anyway to make sure we didn’t leave anything behind,’ I tell him, not meeting his gaze.
‘Then I’ll wait for you.’
I wave him away. ‘No. Go home. It’s been a long day.’
‘Poppy,’ he says, my name dripping off his tongue like honey.
‘Salman, please.’ I turn in his direction with a deep inhale. ‘I don’t want to argue.’
Something in my face must tell him to take me seriously because he folds easier than I would have thought. Even though I’m the one who is being annoying, I can’t help being disappointed that he didn’t fight harder to get me in that taxi with him.
‘OK, but will you at least have something to eat? You’ve not eaten anything all day.’
I roll my eyes. ‘You’re tracking my meals now, are you?’
‘No, just looking out for you.’
‘I’ll eat when I’m done, promise. Now, will you go, please?’
Salman nods and wordlessly leaves, taking the two bags he arrived with, the door shutting with a thud – I’m not sure it was because of the wind or because he’s annoyed with me.
I text Ma to let her know I’m delayed but that I’ll be on my way soon.
Ma
OK love. see you soon. Maybe we can get a takeaway tonight?
Watch that romcom you’ve been yammering on about? xx
Poppy
Perfect!!! xx
I pace the cabin, scanning it for things left behind and windows left open. I don’t want Sadia to get annoyed with me because we didn’t follow the rules about checking out and have to pay an additional fee, so I decide to do at least two more laps before I call it quits.
It’s only after I’ve checked the bathroom and I’m gathering my things to head out of the cabin that I realise I never blew out the candles on the edge of the reading nook. God, it’s a good thing I remembered, or they would have kept burning and who knows what could have happened.
As I go to blow out the candles, however, I’m overcome by a wave of nausea and dizziness. I press my fingers to my temples, hoping I can massage it away, but it doesn’t help. Maybe I should have listened to Salman and eaten something. I’m about to turn and head towards the fridge, afraid I might pass out if I don’t eat something soon, when I sway and stumble forward. Instinctively I reach out for something to hold on to, but all I manage to do is push the brass candleholder.
As the long candle topples, it makes my breath hitch because I can see what’s about to happen before it does. The candle rolls along until it grazes the edge of the curtains that trail down to the floor, lighting it up. It takes less than a second before the gauzy fabric hisses as it catches light, the flames splitting off and growing as they slither upwards. I’m paralysed by fear as I watch it happen. My mind is blank; I’ve forgotten everything I know about what to do in the event of a fire.
Ma’s going to have the police at her door again, I think, and knowing what that will do to her spurs me into action, even though all I want to do is cry. I turn around, whipping my head from side to side as I look for something to suffocate the flames with. Fire extinguisher. There has to be a fire extinguisher heresomewhere. It’s probably in the utility room, so I need to get there. I try to see through the smoke but my eyes sting and I don’t have the layout of the cabin committed to memory to find it quickly.
OK, new plan. I scan the room through the smoke and see the cushions on the sofa. I grab one and beat at the curtain, but the flames are too strong and too high up. All I can do is watch, wide-eyed, as they climb higher and higher, black smoke filling the cabin. It’s so thick that I hardly have time to react when the curtain falls to the floor. I stumble back just in time, but still a flame kisses my shin.
I yelp, then start coughing as the smoke hits the back of my throat. Within seconds, I feel my chest tighten.
‘Poppy!’ Somebody shouts my name.
No, not somebody –Salman.
I make my way towards his voice, my arms outstretched, hoping I’m heading towards the door to the cabin. A moment later, Salman’s pulling me outside by the wrist.
‘Told you,’ he shouts, his voice urgent.
‘Told me what?’
‘That you should have left with me.’ Even with the smoke, I see the shit-eating grin on his face. Even though I don’t want to smile, I can’t help it.
