Page 2

“Not exactly, kid,” his voice echoes through the office and I suck in a breath, a roaring sound filling my ears. “The plane went down.”

I collapse back into my chair, my mind recalling every image I’ve ever seen of a small plane crash as I stare out of the window like somehow, I might catch him landing on the runway instead of trapped in a mangled metal box.

“What do you mean it went down?” I whisper, holding the microphone close to my lips. “What happened?”

“I’m not sure. I had just come over the mountain when all the gauges started going crazy and I couldn’t stop it. She went down hard.”

I run through the mechanics of the plane in my mind, trying to figure out what could have possibly failed but it’s impossible to think with my heart hammering in my chest and each breath punching out of my chest. Looking down at the microphone in my hand, I realize I need to get him some help. Nodding, I turn toward the desk and grab a pen.

“Give me your coordinates, Dad, and I’ll get help out to you.”

He rattles off some coordinates and I scribble them down before grabbing the phone and dialing nine-one-one. I relay all the information to the operator before setting the phone down and grabbing the microphone again.

“Okay, Dad. Help is on the way.”

“Listen to me, Linc,” he says, his voice growing weaker and chills blanket my skin. “They’re not going to make it in time.”

I recoil, staring down at the microphone in my hand with wide eyes before I press the button. “What are you talking about? They’re coming right now. You’ve just got to hang on.”

“I need you to listen, son. I’m losing a lot of blood and I’m pretty sure I nicked an artery in my leg. The crash site is fifteen miles out of town, at least. This is a body recovery, not a rescue.”

“Don’t say that,” I hiss, tears burning my eyes. “Just hang on.”

“Lincoln,” he whispers, his voice trailing off at the end and my heart seizes.

“Dad!”

“I’m still here.” His voice is even weaker than before and it hits me all at once, crashing down on me like an avalanche that this is the last time I’m ever going to speak to my father. Tears slips down my cheeks and I rest my head in my hand, struggling to breathe. I’m not ready for this. I’m only fifteen – how the hell am I supposed to go on without my dad? And Mom… Oh, God. I have to call Mom and tell her what’s happening.

“Do me a favor, Kid?” he asks and I nod.

“Yeah, Dad. Anything.”

“Take care of your mom and sisters for me, okay? You’re all they have left now and they need you.”

A sob rips its way through my lips and I pound my fist into the desk. Why? Why is this happening to him? To our family?

“I will. I promise.” My voice cracks and I flick a few tears off my face.

“And tell them all how much I love them. If there was anyway out of this, I would be there with you all.”

“I’ll tell them.”

“Good. It’s time to be the man I’ve been raising you to be. I know it’s not fair but you’ve already made me so proud, Lincoln. This is just the hand we’ve been dealt and I know I can count on you to step up.”

“I won’t let you down.”

The silence stretches between us and my chest feels tight, my mind screaming as I wait for him to respond to me.

“I know you won’t. You’re a good kid and an even better son. Never forget how much I love you.”

“I love you, too, Dad,” I whisper, praying for more time but the only response is a haunting static.