Page 75 of When You Saved Me

Looking Charlie straight in her eyes, I said, “We need to move now!”

She held the seat belt out for me as I moved my knife over the fabric, sawing it as quickly as I could. The fabric was thick though and with each saw of my knife, the fire spread quicker.

Charlie started gasping for air through sobs that wracked her body. The tears came for me too. I couldn’t lose her. She was everything. She waseverything!

Only a few threads left. Sweat spread over my forehead from the heat and anxiety.

Four threads.

Three.

Two.

Yes!

Throwing my knife somewhere behind me, I rushed to get Charlie out of the seat. I could tell she was feeling weak when I wrapped my arms around her waist and pulled, she could hardly keep her arms draped over my neck.

“Almost there, Sunshine. Stay with me. Please…stay with me.”

The part of the belt that was over her lap snagged. There was no time. The fire was melting parts of the dashboard now. Rushed, I yanked the seat belt through the feed loop. Once. Twice. Finally, it released, and Charlie fell onto my chest as I landed backwards in the snow.

I held her close to me, burying my nose in her hair. The sweet scent of vanilla mixed with the tang of iron from the blood running down the side of her face hit my nostrils.

But she was safe. In my arms, where she belonged.

“Are you okay?” I asked, lifting her chin.

Her eyelids were starting to droop as she whispered, “I don’t feel so good.”

“Okay, Sunshine. Just stay with me a little longer. We need to get to my truck so we can get to the hospital.”

“Okay,” she groaned as I gingerly held her ribcage and maneuvered us up together.

Just as I got us both to stand, I saw the bright light emanate from behind her. Before I had a chance to tell her to run, Charlie’s entire car burst into flames with an explosion that sent her flying into my chest.

Snow crunched beneath me. Pain shot up my spine from where I landed on my tailbone. It was all I could do to wrap my arms around Charlie and hold her tight against me, but when we both went down, I felt her slip from my grasp.

A sharp ring spliced my eardrums as I looked around, trying to get my bearings. When I turned to my right, I saw Charlie about two feet away from me. The wound over her brow was seeping blood again. Her eyes were closed, and her mouth was slightly ajar.

Blood rushed through my veins so loudly I could hear it in my ears as the ringing slowly faded and I started crawling over to her.

“Charlie!” My throat was thick from the adrenaline, her name coming out hushed.

She didn’t respond. Not even a flinch of recognition of my voice.

I held her face in my hands, gently patting her cheeks to jumpstart her nervous system. “Come on, baby.” I barely felt the hot tears rolling down my face.

“Charlie, come on. Wake up for me.” I kissed her lips, the metallic taste of blood hitting my tongue.

“Come on!” I screamed. The silent, snowy earthswallowed the sound like neither one of us were here and my heart wasn’t being ripped from my chest.

Placing my head on her chest, I heard the faint breath in her lungs and felt the subtle beat of her heart when I pressed my fingers to her wrist. She was with me. She was here. But if I didn’t get her to a hospital quickly…

Using all the strength I had left in my shaking body; I carried her to my truck and laid her down in the back seat of the cab. Pressing a final kiss to her forehead, I whispered, “You’re my sunshine, Charlie. Please don’t leave me in the darkness.”

Chapter 26

Charlie

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