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1
HARPER
How did I let this happen?
I cough violently, my eyes watering as I fight to keep them open. The acrid smell of burning sugar and flour fills the air, making it nearly impossible to breathe. I glance over at my kids, their faces streaked with soot, fear in their eyes. My heart races with urgency; we need to get out of this bakery, and fast.
But how?
“Come on, guys! Stay close to me,” I shout over the roar of the flames engulfing our once-beloved haven. The smoke is thick, obscuring my vision, but I’d recognize the shapes of my children anywhere.
As we stumble through the burning chaos, debris falls from the ceiling like a deadly rain shower. A large chunk of plaster crashes down inches away from my youngest, Peter, forcing me to yank him back by his shirt collar. Panic rises in my throat. We’re running out of time.
“Mommy, I’m scared!” my daughter, Olivia, cries, her voice trembling.
“Me too, sweetheart,” I admit, trying to sound as brave as possible. “Just stay close to me, okay? We’ll get out of here together.”
The smoke continues to fill the bakery, painting everything in shades of black and gray. The once-vibrant colors of the cakes and pastries are now hidden beneath layers of ash, the sweet treats transforming into grotesque reminders of the danger surrounding us.
After everything that I’ve worked so hard to achieve…none of that matters now.
“Keep moving, kids!” I urge them forward, my voice barely audible above the crackling fire and crumbling building. I can feel the heat on my skin, sweat trickling down my back as I push my body to its limits. But all that matters is getting my children out safely.
“Mommy, it’s so hot!” Peter whines, his voice cracking with fear.
“Almost there, baby,” I reassure him, trying to swallow my own terror as we inch closer to the exit. The temperature is unbearable.
Suddenly, a loud crash echoes throughout the bakery. I glance up just in time to see a large chunk of debris falling directly above me. There’s no time to react, no time to escape its path.
“Harper, watch out!” I hear someone scream, but it’s too late. The debris slams into me, knocking me off my feet and pinning me to the ground. Pain explodes through my body as my vision blurs, and I can barely make out the muffled cries of my children.
“Mommy!” they scream, their voices filled with desperation and anguish.
“Go…run,” I manage to choke out, my lungs burning from the smoke. I don’t want them to see me like this, vulnerable and powerless. They need to get out safely, even if it means leaving me behind.
“Please help her!” my daughter pleads to someone nearby, her sobs breaking my heart. I wish I could hold her, tell her everything will be okay, but my strength is fading fast.
“Stay strong for me,” I whisper, my voice barely audible through the chaos. “I love you both so much.”
The world around me turns black.
* * *
A sharp painshoots through my skull as I blink open my eyes, struggling to focus on the pearly white ceiling above me. My throat is raw, each breath a rasp of sandpaper against my windpipe, and my mind is a swirling vortex of confusion.
What the heck?
“Where…?” I mumble, trying to piece together my surroundings. The faint scent of disinfectant lingers in the air, mingling with the steady beeping of the machines nearby. Clearly a hospital. But why? “Wha…?”
“Hey, don’t try to talk too much yet,” a deep voice says gently from beside me. I turn my head slowly, wincing at the stiffness in my neck, and come face-to-face with one of the most gorgeous men I’ve ever seen. His chiseled jaw is adorned with a day’s worth of stubble, and his full lips curve into a comforting smile. His thick chestnut hair is tousled, like he’s just run his fingers through it, and his piercing cerulean eyes are filled with genuine concern.
“Who…are you?” I manage to croak out, feeling a strange mix of fear and curiosity.
“Sorry, Harper, I should’ve introduced myself. I’m Hudson Ledger, one of the firefighters who responded to the fire at your bakery,” he explains, his voice low and soothing. He shifts in his seat, the muscles in his broad shoulders flexing beneath his tight-fitting navy blue shirt.
“How do you know my name?” I cock my head to the side. I attempt to sit up, but there’s a searing pain in my head that forces me to lie back down.
“You don’t remember this handsome face?” He smirks. “I have to say, I’m a bit disappointed.”
