Page 66 of Into the Tempest

How did we salvage anything from this?

Looking at Ellis’ house, I wasn’t sure what was left to salvage at all.

I walked into the mess of what was left. It was sodden and strewn everywhere. There was half a wall to the right still standing, nothing on the left, and there was no roof at all. Plasterboard was everywhere, half a couch upended, clothes, papers, a broken table. The kitchen island bench was still there, but the fridge was now laying a few metres outside.

I wasn’t sure what I could tread on, so I didn’t go far. It was unsafe, and the last thing the hospital needed right now was me being injured for being stupid.

“Jeremiah?” Tully called out from where he was standing with Ellis. “What are you doing?”

They were at the front of the house. I gave him a sad smile. “I know. I just...” My foot slipped a little, and I looked down to see I was standing on what was a piece of kitchen cabinet or a dresser of some kind. But I spotted something else, half hidden.

It was a clock.

It was silver and art deco, or some other style I wasn’t familiar with. It looked old and maybe it meant something to him. I had to lift a piece of plywood off it, but I picked it up, surprised by its weight, and brushed it off. I walked out with it, stepping over everything, and Tully held his hand out to help me over the last part.

I handed the clock to Ellis.

He took it with a teary smile, wiping the crystal face.

“Granddad’s desk clock,” Tully said.

Ellis nodded and wiped a tear from his cheek. “It was upstairs,” he said.

Christ. This house used to be double storey?

Tully pulled his brother in for another hug as their parents arrived, clearly shocked by what they saw.

“Oh, good heavens,” his mother whispered, her hand to her mouth.

Their dad put a hand on each son. “Thank god you weren’t here, Ellis.”

A fire truck turned into the street, lights flashing, and they cut the siren. They stopped at the first house.

“Let’s see what we can find,” his dad said. “Before they kick us out.”

“Dad, stop,” Ellis said, grabbing his father’s arm. “Don’t.” He shook his head and sighed. “There are gas lines, and that wall doesn’t look stable.” He looked at what used to be his house. “All my photos are in the cloud. My hard drive is backed up; all my work files are saved. I’m wearing the watch you guys bought me.” He shook his head and shrugged. “What’s left is just... stuff. It’s just replaceable stuff.” He held up the clock and gave me a sad smile. “Except this.”

Tully put his arm around me. He rested his forehead on my shoulder, exhausted. I knew exactly how he felt.

“I don’t know where I’ll go,” Ellis mumbled.

“You can live with us,” Tully replied quickly.

Us?

It took me a moment to realise that Tully included me. Sure, I lived there. But up until now it had felt like I was onlystayingthere. As if it were a temporary arrangement.

Tully squeezed my hand. “Is that okay?”

Okay?

“Of course it’s okay. It’s your house. Why are you asking me?”

“Because you live there too.”

“Yeah, but it’s not my house.”

Tully sighed and, ignoring that comment but still holding my hand, looked at Ellis. “You can stay with us. For as long as you need.”

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