I decided to go to brunch after all, it would take a lot of work, but I had to see this thing through to the end. I headed up to my room and closed the door I then turned on my alarm giving myself plenty of time before my evincible encounter tomorrow. I had to prepare myself both mentally and emotionally for the day ahead.
***
My alarm blared loudly as I was suddenly ripped from my dreamy sleep…I awoke in a start almost unaware for the briefest of seconds were I was and the day that awaited me.
I slowly gained my senses…I looked around the room and a torrent of sunshine filled it.
I looked over to my night table and grabbed my phone from it, I looked at the time. I had about an hour and a half to go before I had to get ready to meet Michelle and her brother for brunch. I hoped from my bed over to my prosthetic leg leaning against the wall, I slipped it on and the device automatically light up as it hummed to life.
I walked from my bedroom to my washroom to prepare for my morning. After I had gotten ready I made my way down stairs.
I was still a little apprehensive about what was going to occur this morning or how I was going to react; I had spent the better part of last night and a good chunk of this morning reflecting on what Larry had said yesterday. And as hard as it was to admit it…he was right, I needed to forgive…it was not going to be easy considering how much I had struggled this past year, or finding out about Michelle’s ultimate involvement in this tragic affair, but alas Larry was right…
As I made my way down the last few steps my thoughts drifted back to the present. I looked around my small kitchen and decided that a cup of tea was in order.
I took the kettle of the stove and lumbered over to the sink to fill it, it was such a beautiful morning that I had made the decision to walk over to Michelle’s house, it was only about a 30 minute walk from my place…I had plenty of time..Plus it would give me a bit of time to ponder what I was going to say.
I stood by the stove deep in thought as I was suddenly rattled back to reality when a loud whistling noise pervaded the room, my tea was done.
I grabbed my travel mug from one of the cupboards and placed the tea bag in it. And filled it with water, the steam rose from the mug and the scent of the tea filled the room.
An affinity for tea that has persisted long before losing my leg, that little joy in my life had never faded, nor would it I surmised.
I took my travel mug and walked over to my closet to retrieve my coat, I placed the mug on the small table beside the door. I took my coat from the hanger and slipped it on. I made sure that I had everything I would need for the day (namely my cell phone.) And opened the door and stepped outside into the cool morning.
The sky was a crisp bright blue color, not a cloud could be seen. The shadows danced down the street as the sun rose behind the buildings. I locked my front door and quickly descended the steps in a hurry; I swiftly walked down the small walkway leading up to my porch.
My mind was a flutter as I hurried my pace down the street my girlfriends and the inevitable discomfort that awaited me, I took my phone out of my pocket to check the time. It was 10:10 am; I was making good time as I only had a couple of blocks left until my destination.
I was about to put my phone back in my pocket when it started to vibrate and ring in my hand.
I looked down at the caller display and it was coming from Michelle’s number, I was somewhat hesitant to answer….but I figured that it was Michelle confirming whether or not I was actually going to show up or not. I decided to answer it and alleviate her worry…
“Hello.” I said somewhat anxiously
“Anton…” I did not recognize the voice on the other end of the line.
“Yes, who is this and why are you calling me from my girlfriends phone number?” I asked sharply.
“It’s Doug, Michelle’s brother.” The man said.
“Doug!” I said startled “Why are you phoning me, where is Michelle?” I asked as the concern started to rise in my voice.
“I have tried calling emergency services…but I can’t seem to get a connection, and you’re the only other person that I could think of calling…” he said, his voice heavy with alarm.
“What...What’s wrong “I demanded out of fear and anger.
“There is a fire, I managed to escape…but Michelle is still trapped inside…” Doug sputtered out.
“Good lord…I’m on my way…I’m only a couple of blocks away I’ll be there in 5 minute!” I said as I placed the phone back into my pocket and started to sprint down the street hoping that I could reach the scene in time.
As I raced down the street and headed for the corner up ahead I could already hear the crackling of a fire in the distance. My adrenaline started to pump through me as I quickened my pace, the artificial intelligence of the prosthetic leg could barrel keep up as the signals shot from my spine to its computer at a blistering speed.
I rounded the corner and the scene that befell me was one of utter chaos, I could see Michelle’s house already engulfed in flame. The flame crackled and snapped as it burned brightly in the morning sky, the smoke was thick black mass rising from the structure.
Doug was standing outside the house; his face was distraught with a look of sheer grief. He looked over at me…
“I tried to get her out…but the heat was too intense…we have to save her.” He blurted out. A look of anguish fell over his face, his features went from a small sunken face to a look of pure fear, his eyes bulged out of his head and his lips were curled into a sharp frown.
“I tried the fire department again, but that has not gotten any results…the dam phone won’t connect…what are we going to do?” the sound of terror filled the man’s voice.
And at that moment, all the pain and anger that I felt towards this one man seemed to fade away to nothingness, I realized at that exact point in time that despite my loathing hatred that I had kept buried deep inside for so long…it was all for nothing, I was not dealing with an inhuman monster…
I was dealing with a frail, broken man. Who at that second needed me to save his sister, a women that we both loved.
I took a deep breath and looked over at Doug; he was standing there shaking profusely from fear and anguish.
“Let’s go.” I said unsure myself of what we would find upon entering the burning building, but Michelle’s life dependent on our actions.
Chapter 6
I and Doug approached the building with extreme caution, even though we knew it was a stupid idea to enter a burning building both of us felt that we had no choice in the matter.
I walked up slowly to the door and could feel the heat radiating from it, I then took a small step back and rushed against the door ramming my shoulder into it…it didn’t budge, then Doug did the same.
Again the door stood defiant against us, I rushed at the door again this time I used my prosthetic to kick the door, and that was the final blow.
The door gave way and burst off its hinges and into the smoldering and burning living room. The scene in front of me and Doug could only be described as a living Hell, large flames snaked across the floor and licked up the walls, thick black smoke poured through the opening we had created when we entered.
I turned to Doug who was sweating profusely from the heat; he had a look of sheer determination in his eyes.
“Were is she?” I yelled through the crackling and popping of the fire around us.
“Upstairs!” Doug yelled back, I then turned my attention to the staircase, and luckily it had not been fully immersed in the inferno. I then bolted from the living room trying to dodge the fire that threatened to extinguish me along with everything else.
I put my hand on the railing but pulled it back just as quickly as the heat from the fire had made it impossible to hold onto without being burned. I raced up the staircase yelling out Michelle’s name as I ran from one step to the other.
Once I reached the top of the staircase I looked around franticly searc
hing for Michelle, but all I could see was a blinding hot fog in either direction…then I spotted her!
She was lying on the ground just outside the entrance to her bedroom, she wasn’t moving…
“Michelle!” I gasped as I saw her on the floor.
“Michelle!” I yelled again, still no response…I rushed over to her and knelt down, she was laying on her back, I put my head on her chest to check if she was still breathing, thank god she was still drawing breath…”but if both of us didn’t get out of her, neither of us would have that luxury.” I grimly thought to myself.
“Doug, I found her!” I yelled over my shoulder. I than picked up Michelle and threw her over my shoulder then as quickly as I could, I made my way back to the staircase. I saw Doug standing at the bottom, when he saw Michelle crumpled over my shoulder a small smile crossed his face.
I then tried to make my way down the stairs, but the smoke had gotten so thick that it was searing my lungs with every breath that I inhaled. I managed to maneuver and avoid the flames as made my decent down the stairs.
Doug greeted me somewhat happily given our current circumstances. He and I both carried Michelle out of the house.
As we stepped outside the sound of sirens could be heard in the distance… they were fast approaching our location.
We placed Michelle on the soft ground from the house and I looked over at Doug, he was on his knees in front of Michelle with a look of a man who had come back from the brink of hell, and in a way he had...and so had I, then everything went black.
***
I woke up to a somewhat familiar sound…the sound of machines beeping and the names of prestigious titles being called out over an intercom, I was in the hospital.
I looked over to my left and Michelle was lying in a bed opposite me, than I looked over to my right and Doug was in another bed.
A tall man wearing a white lab coat entered the room.
“You’re all very lucky to be alive,” He said “You very nearly died trying to save this woman’s life. But I must command you gentleman on a very selfless and courage act none the less. “
“When they fire fighters found you, all three of you had suffered from severe smoke inhalation and had lost consciousness.”
“Anton…?” I looked over and Michelle she had risen from her bed, she had a bewildered look on her face.
“We were in a fire, sweetie.” I said trying to comfort her obvious confusion.
“You’re all OK physically.” The doctor replied.
“Are you OK, is Doug OK?” Michelle asked.
“I’m OK Michelle.” A gruff voice said behind me, I turned around and Doug had sat up in his bed.
“Thank goodness,” Michelle replied as she looked down in regret and sorrow “I must have accidently started the fire when I left the candle burning in my room.”
“It’s OK; Michelle…the important thing is that we are all OK. I forgive you.” I then turned my attention to the man who had caused me so much grief and suffering these last few months….the man whom I had hated for so long.
“Doug, I forgive you.” He looked at me with tears streaming down his face.
“Thank you Anton.” Doug then got up from his bed and walked over to me and we embraced tightly.
-The End
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