Because this is about us.
I’m stopped short as I take a step, my heel catches in a crack in the driveway. Yanking on my foot, it takes a few tugs before it breaks free, sending me stumbling forward. Looking back, the heel is sticking out of the crack, and I’m lopsided as I stand.
Fuck.
Are you fucking kidding me?
Swallowing hard, I look up at the sky and grab my forehead. Why? Why me? Why this?
Pushing the air from my lungs, my lips vibrate as I exhale. Looking down at my feet, I get an idea.
That’s alright, I can fix this.
Lifting my foot, I break the heel off the other shoe and toss it into the front yard. A broken shoe isn’t going to stop me from getting what I want. I’m fueled by determination.
Climbing the steps, I stand in the darkness, and pound on his front door. Over and over, I slam my fist, calling out to anyone inside.
“Hello? Max? Mr. Ramon? Anyone?”
No answer. There’s no movement, no lights pop on, nothing. I wait a few more seconds, listening to the crickets chirping, and the bullfrogs croaking. But there’s no sign that anyone is home.
Turning around, I pluck my bottom lip, not sure where to go from here. I don’t have a clue where he could be.
All of a sudden, in the distance, just behind the tree line, sirens start to blare, and red and blue lights begin to light up the sky. They’re growing in numbers, more sirens, more lights, more noise.
What’s happening?
The blue and red lights start to blend with orange bursts. Squinting, I look through the trees to see snaps of color, bright and bold.
Oh shit. Is there another fire?
Holding my dress up, I run back to my car, and tear away from his house on a mission. Following the sounds of fire trucks and police cars, I keep my eyes on the sky, watching as it gets brighter, turning night into day.
Rolling to a stop, I’m a few hundred feet away when I see a building up in flames. There are firemen all over the building, spraying it from every direction. Police are keeping spectators away so no one gets hurt, blocking off an area at a safe distance.
It takes a moment for me to realize what it is I’m looking at exactly. Once I get my bearings, I suck in a huge breath of air and hold it. Tears start to fall instantly, effortlessly, and there’s nothing I can do to stop it.
Westmin Family Medicine.
My father’s building is burning to the ground, flames pouring from the windows, sending sparks high into the sky. The fire spits and crackles as I sit in shock watching. Windows burst out, one at a time, each explosion causing me to jump in my seat.
Oh my God, this isn’t happening. This can’t be happening.
Out of nowhere, the passenger door of my car flies open, and I whip my head over my shoulder in surprise.
“Drive.”
Squinting, my eyes and brain can’t make sense of they’re seeing. “Max?”
“Go! Go, Prairie! Fucking drive!”
“Wait, what? Why are you here? What’s going on?”
“Just fucking drive!” he yells, slamming a heavy palm on the dashboard as he quickly glances out all the windows one at time.
His eyes are open wide, bigger than I’ve ever seen before. His skin is white as a ghost, and his breathing is frantic and rapid.
“All right,” I say, hitting the gas and making a U-turn in the road. Driving away from the fire, I watch it fade into the distance, the burning sky turning into a cloud of smoke the further away we get.
He sits quietly in the seat, his face stuck on the window, watching the trees.
“What the hell is going on, Max?”
Twisting slowly, he turns in my direction, and it’s the first time I notice the damage to his face. His left eye is swelling shut, his lip is split in the corner, dribbling blood down his chin. There are small scrapes and cuts to his cheeks and forehead.
My eyes move down to his hands, where his knuckles are swollen, raw, and bleeding. There’s dirt on his face and clothes, even in his hair.
“Oh my god, are you hurt? What the hell happened to you?” Lifting my hand to touch his cheek, he blocks me, grabbing my hand out of the air and lowering it down.
“I’m sorry, Prairie. I’m sorry I missed prom. I’m sorry I wasn’t there like I told you I would. I planned on being there, I did, I never meant to stand you up.”
Tears stream down my cheeks as I pull the car over into the breakdown lane. Keeping my eyes out the windshield, my hands clench the wheel, nails digging into the leather upholstery. I’ve never seen him like this, and it’s scaring me.
“I need to know the truth, Max. What happened tonight?” Flicking my eyes to his, I see something in his gaze I haven’t before. Vulnerability. Weakness. Sadness.