“I love you for offering, but I won’t do that to y’all. I’ll figure something out. You focus on your wife and daughter, specifically picking out a name so we can stop just calling her ‘she’, okay?” I added jokingly. The less he worried about me, the better I would feel.
“Yeah, yeah, we’ll get one decided on,” he laughed, letting me know I’d cut the tension at least a little bit. “Seriously though, if you can’t figure something out, you’re coming here. I don’t want you to end up in some halfway house or on the street trying to wheel yourself around as you heal. I mean it.”
I scoffed at the imagery. “That’s not gonna happen. I’ll talk with Alice and see if she’s got some room.”
“Uh no. Cause she works outrageous hours like you do and you need someone there taking care of you.” He paused for a minute. “Actually, I think I have an idea. I’ll call you back later on. Get some rest. That’s not a request.”
I wasn’t sure I’d like whatever he was planning, but with my options slim to none and him having a good point about Alice’s hours, plus having a kid of her own she needed to take care of, I was out of options.
“Fine. I’ll do what I can. Just try not to go overboard with whatever you’re planning. I can take care of myself, you know.”
“Yeah, yeah. Go to sleep, Soph. Love you,” he told me, not at all promising anything.
“Love you too.” He hung up before I could argue some more.
I hated being in the dark, but I had to believe whatever he had in mind would be good for me. Even if I probably wouldn’t like it, he’d never steer me wrong.
Feeling a bit better after talking to my brother, I nestled down into the bed and turned on the TV. Flipping through the channels, the weight of what I lost hit me hard once again.
All the pictures, the small knick knacks, and the furniture—everything that had my dad’s memory imprinted into them—were just gone. Reduced to nothing but ash.
And my poor cat. I missed Smoky so much and could only imagine where he’d run off to. I knew he at least survived the fire, but now my baby was out there all alone. My heart ached and tears spilled from my eyes as sadness burned inside me hotter than any fire.
What would I do now? How would I find Smoky? What was left for me other than this job that I loved, but couldn’t even do right now?
I’d never felt so lost and alone. Not even when my dad died. At least then I had Kaden and he had me. But our lives were so different now. Now I was the only one that needed someone.
I let myself cry for it all until my nose was stuffed all to hell and my eyes were raw. Then I decided I needed to just calm down. The drugs were still messing with my emotions, amplifying them more than what they would be if I was clear headed.
So I stopped and composed myself, continuing to flip through the tv channels in search of something that could distract me as I got ahold of myself.
Funnily enough, a few channels later and a familiar show popped up. It was the monster cartoon Mel had been watching. It made me smile almost immediately, so I dropped the remote onto the table and watched it. Melody had been discharged while I was ventilated, which brought me so much happiness that at least she was finally out of here.
I clung to that, breathing in that good feeling that I’d at least been there for her at her worst moment so she could go home.
Home.
Where would my home be now?
Unknown
Sophia. Looks like you made it after all. I had high hopes you would come out of my trap alive. I worked so hard to make sure you wouldn’t. To test you. To make sure you were made for me as much as I’m made for you.
And you did it. You passed. You came out almost completely unscathed. I am happy you bear a mark though. A beautiful mark that is an etching of my devotion to you and the beginning of what’s to come. You and I belong together. We always have. You just don’t see it yet.
Did you see my flowers? I hope you did. They’re your favorite after all. I know because you buy them anytime you’re at the market.
See? I pay attention to the little things. Isn’t that what you want in a man? Someone who knows you? Someone who sees you for the rarity you are? I will stop at nothing for you to see me too.
Just wait. I’m the man for you and you will absolutely see it.
I’ll make sure of it…
Porter
My fists hit the punching bag harder and faster, my adrenaline pumping furiously the longer I went. This was how I worked out my anxiety when things got to be too much.
Ever since saving Sophia, myself, Darren, and Alden had all been basically a bunch of eternally clenched fists. Normally, our jobs would be done after we pulled the rigs back into the bay. Yet somehow, none of us could get on with things like normal. It was strange as hell, and honestly, the most fucking frustrating bullshit. Yet here we all were. Each of us was on edge waiting for her to wake up. Then when she did, we started worrying about how badly injured she was. Finally, wondering how the fuck the fire had started in the first place took over our thoughts. It was insane the amount of concern we all were facing for a girl we barely even knew anymore.
