She starts shaking her head.
Zain looks at the gasoline can lying beside his porch.
“And now you came here to do it again.”
A patrol car tears into the drive.
After that, everything happens quickly.
The deputies take her. Someone photographs the gasoline can, the knife, and the path behind the cabin. A paramedic checks my shoulder while I answer questions that seem to come from very far away.
Through all of it, Zain stays close enough to touch me.
When the last vehicle finally leaves, the yard falls quiet again.
I stand on the porch with my arms wrapped around myself.
Zain turns to me.
The second our eyes meet, whatever control he has been holding together disappears.
“Come here.”
I go.
His arms close around me, pulling me hard against his chest.
I bury my face against his neck.
“You saved me again.”
His hold tightens.
“Once we knew it was arson, we started looking for footage.” His hand moves over the back of my head. “I called you.”
My phone.
Inside.
“I didn’t hear it.”
“I know. I knew you were alone, and when you didn’t answer…”
He stops.
I pull back enough to see his face.
“Zain.”
“I thought I was too late.”
The fear in his eyes breaks something open inside me.
“You weren’t.”
His jaw tightens.
“I cannot keep almost losing you.”
