Time. Fleeting. Never stopping. Each second passing. Each moment, a gift.
Each second that passed, one that she’d never get back.
The Teacher sat beside her husband’s side. Holding his hand…he, unaware. The rhythmic beep of the machine deafening, yet, keeping him alive. She knew there wasn’t much more Time…she wanted it to stop, she wanted him to pull through…she wanted to finish their journey.
The Teacher had married The Firefighter 15 years ago. A storybook wedding where two hearts joined as one after dating through college. The Firefighter found a job at Ladder Company 214, the Teacher went to work in a nearby district, loving her work teaching math to grade schoolers. Each morning, the Teacher and Firefighter would ready themselves, and their 3 young daughters for school, kiss each other goodbye, longing to be rejoined come evening.
The school was located in the heart of the City. The students, many from broken homes, couldn’t wait to come to school to be greeted by their favorite Teacher. The Teacher knew these kids well, she knew what they went home to each night was rough, the areas they were from worn down and broken. She knew they needed love, they needed a smile, they needed Her. Even on days when she didn’t feel like it, she poured her heart into them, and into their learning.
Throughout the day, sirens could be heard heading throughout the City. Sirens that were heard by the Teacher, unnoticed by the children. She noticed. She said a prayer each time.
Ladder Company 214 was in the West District. Half residential, half small business. 214 was busy most of the time. For the past 18 years, The Firefighter and his Brotherhood stood shoulder to shoulder protecting the District. They were trained, they were strong, they were ready, they were brothers. The alarm would ring, and the ritual would begin. On with the gear, race toward the truck, speed to the location. Put out the fire, save lives, ensure public safety, rinse and repeat.
Time. Fleeting. Never stopping. Each second passing. Each moment, a gift.
Today was typical. Up at 5:15am. Readying themselves and their daughters, kissing goodbye, longing to reunite that evening. Around 9:30am, Ladder Company 214 received the call. A small restaurant in the District had a kitchen fire. 214 was dispatched as The Brotherhood readied themselves for the blaze. Upon arriving, it was worse than they had thought, the structure completely engulfed, two employees believed to be trapped inside.
Upon entering the building, The Firefighter’s adrenaline was peaked. Knowing his job, he pressed forward through the smoke, through the flames. If there was anyone in there, it was his responsibility to get them out. On his knees, crawling, slowly, surely, seeking, pushing, calling out that he was there to help. The blaze, deafening. The heat, intensifying. The smoke, thickening. Then word came that the two employees had escaped and were safely outside. The Brotherhood shouted the news to each other as each one attempted to turn back around to exit the dissipating structure.
Then…it happened. An explosion so extreme no one thought it possible. The intense fire had hit a gas line that 214 was told had been shut off. The miscommunication led to disaster as the ignition sent a blast that rocked the neighborhood. Emergency personnel and onlookers gasped as the explosion sent shockwaves through the expanse.
Some believe in Miracles, some in preparation, some in both. The Brotherhood was prepared for this. Three of the four that were on their way out were spared. Shouting back, they realized their 4th Brother did not respond. Their motto, now being lived out…Leave no one behind. The three went back for The Firefighter. Upon finding him unconscious and unresponsive, they hurried the pace to extract him from the incinerated building to rush him to the awaiting medic. The medic, upon seeing him, took a deep breath, and prayed for a Miracle.
48 hours had passed since the blast. The Teacher hadn’t left his side. The induced coma meant to give him needed rest. She wanted nothing more than to hear his voice. She wanted to feel his touch, one last conversation, one last kiss. She’d give anything to have him survive, to have him back. She hadn’t had enough Time with him. Their journey…it couldn’t stop here…not like this. They still had 3 daughters to raise, a life to live, a community to serve. “Please come back to me.” she whispered. “Please, I love you. I need you.” Her tears represented her love for him. Tears that fell off her cheek…onto his lifeless arm.
Time. Fleeting. Never stopping. Each second passing. Each moment a gift.
Suspended between the Here and There, the Firefighter drifted weightless in Time. Ahead of him, a Light. A Light like no other he’d ever seen. It drew him in, curiously wondering where it was emanating from. He slowly tilted forward, motioned toward the Light. Behind him, a sensation. A drip, landing on his arm. An overpowering draw for him to look behind, to turn around. His head turning, now facing opposite, he saw her. The Teacher sat quietly crying by his bedside. She was beautiful. He remembered their wedding day, vowing to love her, for better or worse…to be by her side…to love and protect…to journey with her. He remembered his daughters, each precious, each a full life ahead of them. Yet, the Light drew him forward. He blinked his eyes, coming to grips with the Moment. He knew what was happening. He knew the battle of this Moment. Forward, the Light. Behind, his family.
Loudly, but without words, he spoke. “…I want to go forward…I believe Paradise is ahead. But…I need to go back. I need to finish my journey. I vowed to love and protect. To journey alongside her. She needs me…my girls need me. I’m sorry, I have to go back. Please!…I need to go back to her…”
Time. Fleeing. Never stopping. Each second passing. Each moment a gift.
Gasping loudly, eyes opening, ceiling lights coming into focus. The Teacher stood immediately and came into The Firefighters’ purview. Nurses were alerted and came rushing to the room. Through her tears, she expressed her love for him as she was escorted from the room to give the doctors space to bring him back from the brink.
Three weeks later, the Teacher and Firefighter walked hand in hand as the sun set in front of them. The conversation that evening had been good. Dreams of what was next, gratefulness that they had a new opportunity at life. Still bandaged and disfigured, and with the help of a cane, the Firefighter’s recovery would be slow, but sure. He gazed upon the horizon, and the Light emanating from the scene. He glanced over at the love of his life…he knew he had made the right choice. The Teacher stopped to look deep into his eyes. “I love you…” she said “…You came back.”
“I did…For you…for the girls. The Light let me come back. I knew I wasn’t done. My journey wasn’t complete. My Time hadn’t come. And I’m here…now. I’m here with you and for you. Let’s journey well, let’s live on purpose, let’s raise these girls well… Let’s leave a legacy.”
Time. Fleeting. Never stopping. Each second passing. Each moment a gift.
Journey well. Live your Moments with purpose today…
