AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Wow, that was incredible. That was like watching someone conduct a symphony, only you were saving someone’s life.”
“The doctors in the hospital are going to save his life,” she countered. “We just made sure he had a fighting chance.”
“Still… wow.”
Cindy nodded and shrugged, her face neutral. Then, to my complete surprise, she picked up the weighted vest and put it back on.
“What are you doing?” I wondered.
“Finishing the run. We’ve got, like, seven miles to go.”
“Really?”
“That was what we set out to do, so come on. Put the vest on and let’s get a move on.”
“But, I mean, shouldn’t we check on him or something? They’ll probably want to thank you. You were that guy’s fucking hero today.”
“I’m glad I was able to help. I’m glad Andy and Asher were there,” she said.
“That was so cool. You just rushed in there without even thinking and knew what to do,” I said, probably sounding like some idiot fanboy. I stood there with my stupid weighted vest on, feeling like I was looking at a stranger.
She shrugged, her focus already turning back to the road.
“Luke, I’m going to keep going and finish this run,” she said. “You’re welcome to come with me if you want. Or you can just stand there staring at the smashed car. Your choice.”
Then, she started running down Euclid avenue like she had a fire to put out.
I nodded and ran after her, catching up pretty quickly.
“I like the new hair.”
Cindyand I were the last people to finish the run, which ended at the fire station. As I returned the weighted vest to Asher Lake, I felt a sense of… something. Something I hadn’t felt in a long time. Purpose, maybe.
“We do this every Saturday,” Asher said. “But there’s also a written test and a couple other hoops to jump through if you think Blue Creek Fire Department is right for you.”
“I think it might be,” I told him. “I want to learn more.”
“Good.”
“I want to be able to do what you guys and Cindy did back there,” I told him, not able to keep the admiration out of my voice. “You saved that guy. And you act like it was nothing.”
“It’s what we’re trained to do.”
“Still.”
Asher nodded and gave me a few pamphlets before telling me that he expected to see me next Saturday, bright and early.
I looked around the station and wondered if this could be it for me. I wondered if I could feel about this place the way my dad felt about working at his construction business. Like this was big, meaningful work. I didn’t know yet. But the fact that I was even wondering meant something.
I had Cindy to thank for it. I looked around for her, but she was gone.
I texted her on the way home.
Luke: Where are you?
Luke: I had fun today.
Luke: Thanks for making me do that.
