Page 2 of Heart of a Hero

“Okay, Taylor, I need you to hold onto me really tight, like a baby koala.” I knelt down, helping her climb onto my back. Her small arms wrapped around my neck, her face pressed against my shoulder. “Don’t let go, no matter what.”

I grabbed a blanket from the couch, tying it around us like a makeshift harness. It wasn’t much, but it might keep her from slipping if my grip faltered. My heart pounded as I climbed onto the windowsill, the drop yawning beneath me.

“Hold on, baby,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “Mommy’s got you.”

Taking a deep breath, I swung my leg over the edge, my foot finding the cold metal of the fire escape. The platform shuddered under my weight, the rusted bolts creaking ominously. I forced myself not to look down. I added more of my weight, and yelped as the platform gave way. It groaned and clanged as it collapsed, banging against the building before landing on the concrete below. I gripped the window frame, thankful I still had one foot inside the apartment.

If I’d stepped out all the way, we’d have died! My heart pounded and my throat felt tight. What were we going to do now?

Desperation clawed at my throat as I searched for a way down, a way out. Then I saw them -- the firemen. Hope surged through me, so fierce it hurt.

“Help!” I screamed, my voice raw and ragged. “Please, help us!”

I waved my arm wildly, praying they would see us through the haze of smoke. For a terrifying moment, nothing happened. The firemen continued their work, oblivious to our plight.

Oh God, what if they didn’t see us? What if they couldn’t reach us in time? Tears streamed down my face as I imagined the worst. I couldn’t let that happen. I wouldn’t.

“Up here!” I yelled again, louder this time. “We’re trapped!”

And then, miraculously, one of the firemen looked up. He pointed in our direction, shouting something to his teammates. Relief crashed over me like a wave.

“They see us, Taylor,” I whispered, hugging her tightly. “They’re coming. Just hold on a little longer, okay?”

She nodded against my back, her small hands fisted in my shirt. “I love you, Mommy.”

“I love you too, baby. More than anything.” I kissed the top of her head, my heart aching with the force of it. “We’re going to be all right. I promise.”

I closed my eyes and let myself believe we were going to make it.

* * *

Dawson

The alarm blared through the station, jolting me into action. “Apartment fire on 5th and Maple!” someone shouted. My heart pounded as I threw on my bunker gear, the heavy coat and pants weighing me down but also steeling my resolve. I joined my team as we raced to the fire truck, sirens already wailing.

As we sped through the city streets, I tried to calm my nerves and focus. Flames. Smoke. People trapped. This is what I trained for. What I lived for.

We screeched to a halt outside the burning apartment building, flames licking out the windows and thick black smoke billowing into the sky. My eyes watered from the acrid stench as I leaped out and assessed the inferno before me. It was worse than I thought. The fire had engulfed the entire building, all the way to the top floors, orange tongues of flame bursting through some of the top floor windows.

The captain walked off to assess the situation and I stared at the building in horror. Evan came up beside me letting out a long whistle. “Damn. Think someone’s Christmas lights caused this?”

I shrugged. This time of year, anything was possible. “Wouldn’t be the first time.”

Cap came back and gave us our orders, and the crew got to work dousing the building. Another fire station responded, and soon we had two hoses trying to tame the flames. I wasn’t sure it was going to be enough.

Captain Briggs came over a few minutes later, his face grim. He pointed up, and I followed to a window on the top floor. “Dawson, we got a woman trapped on the eighth floor.”

My blood ran cold. “I’ll get her, Cap. Just get the ladder truck in place and --”

“No can do.” Briggs shook his head firmly. “The fire’s too intense. The building’s not stable, and the flames will weaken the ladder. No way to reach her.”

“Cap, we can’t just leave her!” I clenched my fists, my mind racing for a solution.

“Nothing we can do, son.” Briggs put a hand on my shoulder. “I’m sorry. Sometimes, we lose people. You know this already. It’s part of the job.”

I shrugged him off, still staring at the raging flames. Like hell was I giving up on her. Not while there was still a chance. I scanned the adjacent building, an idea starting to form. It was risky as all get-out but it just might work.

The roar of the inferno faded as determination flooded through me. I knew what I had to do. I turned to Briggs, my voice low and urgent.

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