Broken Bonds, New Bloom

e docks. Black smoke billowed into the sky, thick and choking. The

arch and rescue, west side entrance!" my

back, pulling on my hel

hine built on trust and training. We breached the door and were immediately swallowed by smo

ty seconds!" I commanded, my v

ng for any sign of life. The roar of the fire was deafening, a c

ookie named Peters, out of the way just as a burn

ance!" he

responded, my

in the smoke, I saw a flicker of movement. A figure w

yelled into my r

as I worked my way to the trapped worker. He was c

here," I said, my voice calm an

," he s

We're right h

y steel shelving off his legs. The whole time, I kept tal

heard a familiar voice

yes. Army rescue unit on sit

el. His unit was often called in fo

n's voice crackled back. "We need support

ood. Mov

low, careful process of carrying him out. As we neared the exit, I saw Daniel and his team working on the north wall, a seamless, professional unit. For a moment, our eyes me

er the blackened skeleton of the warehouse. I was exhausted, covered in soot and sweat,

, when Captain Johnson walked over. A piece of debris had caught my arm ea

eaking into a proud smile. "You've got a great caree

nks,

chief told me why you put in for the transfer. Said you didn'

ter bottle half

d a messy public divorce from a firefighter in the same city... it wouldn't look go

myself. I had no idea about a promotion. Was that what Daniel thought? That I

ll lingered in the air. The flour was still on the floor. I was too tired to clean

acket when I heard a key in

. His uniform was stained with soot. He saw the burn

d to take my arm, his touch surprisingly gentle. "

of his touch sending a confusi

ted, his voice laced with a frustration that felt all too familiar. He starte

ofessional incident. But all those nights I had cried myself to sleep over his neglect, all th

flat. "Did you get the pa

and stood up, his bac

he final decree. It was messen

his face. "I didn't get any papers, Eleanor. I was in

sing at his command post. Unless... unless someone intercepted them. Someone who had access to his of

iv