We follow it until I find a knob.
Yes!
It’s not too hot and optimism pushes me through it. When I do, my heart sinks. It’s just another room. We’re not going to make it.
I look back at Isaac.
“Get us out of here, Luke!”
I need to save them. I need to saveus. We continue following the wall for what feels like hours until the entrance finally reveals itself.
“Yes!”
A blast of fresh air hits us as we bolt as far away from the building as we can before collapsing. Moving on pure adrenaline, I begin pushing air into Emma’s lungs as Isaac works at her ties.
We swap when my chest tightens, and I finish her ties. Isaac presses on her chest like his
own life depends on it.
“Come on, come on, come on,” I hiss.
“Breathe!” Isaac cries, holding her nose and pressing his lips to hers.
“Emma, for the love of God, stay with us!”
Everything goes silent, as if the flames are no longer belting behind us. Sirens aren’t
howling. The Miami nightlife isn’t buzzing and Isaac isn’t panicking. I look at Emma’s peaceful face. Despite the dirt splotches and stressed mascara draping across her cheeks, she’s still peaceful.
“Emma,” I whisper, holding her limp hand.
One last, large puff of hair from Isaac’s lungs to hers has her eyes flickering.
“Isaac!”
Emma’s gasps and coughs give me a relief I’ve never known. I can hardly explain why, but chuckles spring from my lips. Maybe it’s my body, continuing to release the motion of nerves inside me. I thought she was gone.
I have never thought about what life could possibly be without Emma. Without her strength, without her motivation, her support, and love, and beauty.
Isaac wraps his large arms around her, rocking her and kissing the top of her head. It’s not long before I find myself tangled up with them. My chest is pressed against Emma’s back, but my arms wrap around them both. I can’t possibly live without her.
Is this love?
The surrounding sounds return as the warehouse aches and the roof collapses in through the middle, like it’s being sucked into a twisted wormhole. The ground beneath us shakes. Wind pushes debris our way.
Before we know it, the building is gone.