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“Officer Rooney, get out of my way or arrest me. Whit is back there.” I brushed him off and he stepped to the side. This conversation wasn’t over, but he let me through while he’s forced to contain the rest of the crowd behind barriers. I must not be a threat for him to let me go so easily. My hands shake holding the camera, but I use it as my in. People mostly ignored me assuming I’m from a local paper, I don’t stop to analyze why. My focus was on getting to my man.
I searched the perimeter not finding him. I don’t want to call his name for fear it’ll distract them from their jobs. I said a prayer and offer up to God anything he wants of me, but please let me find him. Let me find the man I haven’t confessed all my I love yous to yet. I’d been collecting a bunch of them, but now I needed one to produce a miracle. Absentminded my hands point the camera and I clicked not even checking the field of vision. It wouldn’t matter anyway because my eyes were glazed over with tears but it was something to give my idle hands a job while my brain used the rest of its executive functioning to move forward.
Finally, I see a break in the crowd, it’s Whit’s boss, Jeff. He’s wearing the protective fire gear and they’re pulling a stretcher out of the woods. My heart plummeted in my chest and catch myself before I fall to my knees.
“Whit.” My voice shuddered and I pushed past people forcing my way to him.
“Lia what are you doing here?” Jeff scolded me. Ignoring him, I pulled off Whit’s glove to touch his hand skin to skin. He’s inert, and unresponsive.
“Is he?” I don’t know how to form the words in my mouth because grief has taken over.
Jeff touched my shoulder and squeezed gently. “No. He’s just out from smoke inhalation and got injured when a tree came down. He’s okay. He’s going to be okay. Let the medics work on him.”
I took Jeff at his word and put all my faith and hope into it. They moved him into the ambulance and the EMT, a girl named Erin didn’t question me when I followed. She gave me a hand up into the ambulance and I sat shocked looking at Whit’s charcoal stained face and sweat streaked skin littered with abrasions. He didn’t have anyone coming for him except his close friends and me.
The ride to the hospital was a blur. I stepped outside and followed them in until a nurse sto
pped me from going into the room while they worked on him.
“Miss, I need you to stay out here.”
“He doesn’t have anyone. He doesn’t…” I couldn’t finish the sentence and she must have taken pity on me because she frowned and led me down the hall to a small waiting room instructing me to sit until she came back. I make her promise and she nods. It’s surreal. I’m in the hospital checking my phone for updates. The Wi-Fi sucked, the cell service was shitty, and I was too afraid to leave the room in case she came back with news. My bladder hurt, but I don’t even try to find a bathroom. I heard voices in the hallway arguing.
“Officer Rooney?” I said.
“Lia.” He walked over to me and put his hands on my shoulders holding me up.
“He’s in there.” I pointed down the hall and he nodded.
“I know. He’s listed me as his contact. He has for years.”
I shook and whimpered. “I don’t know anything.”
“I know. It’s going to be a while before they tell us anything. Let’s go get some food and take care of you.”
I’m shaking my head no. “I can’t, the nurse said she’d come back and I promised to stay right here.” Tear overwhelmed me.
“Hey, shhh. It’s gonna be okay.” He directed me down the hall and toward a restroom. I slipped inside and used it quickly washing my hands and face fixing my messy hair. I didn’t care how I looked, but I felt like I couldn’t go on without refreshing myself. Patiently, Officer Rooney waited outside.
“They’re going to page me when we can get back there to see him, but you and I young lady are going to discuss what you were doing up there.” He took my arm and guided me toward a table inside the cafeteria.
“What do you mean?”
“Let me see your camera.” He held his hand out and I automatically handed it over. I’ve done nothing wrong and while he isn’t accusing me of anything I have to wonder why he wants to see it.
“Officer Rooney…” I started to explain.
“Call me Evan. Now, how did you know about the fire?”
“I heard about it from my roommate and knew he was working. I drove up thinking I could find him.”
His brow furrowed. “The girl who got lost the first time.” He deadpanned. I’d never live that down.
“Har, har. I know. I just had this bad feeling I couldn’t shake.”
Evan scanned the room before speaking. “I’m not supposed to say this, but I think the controlled fire spot was tampered with.”
“How do you know?” I responded.
