Page 13 of End Of Never

We see the haze before we turn down the street; the glowing fire lights the night sky just above the house, engulfed in flames. Jumping out of the ambulance, I spot Hayden running around the rig, “Hey, Wilder, let's do this!” He pats his chest, grabs the hose, and runs towards the blazing house. Jamie and I get everything ready. The firefighters fight like hell, dousing the orange and red flames threatening to engulf the house. “Get hoses on that fire!” The Captain yells before grabbing Hayden, motioning him in. He suits up, and like the hero he is, he rushes in, wasting no time.

The radio echoes; Hayden's voice is muffled: “We got two people, Cap, coming out now!” The rest of the crew fights like hell to diminish the fire that roars with a vengeance, determined to burn everything to ash.

“Jamie! Jace! Get ready, Hayden has two trapped inside! He’s working on an exit now!” The captain radios to the crew, “SOUTH EXIT!” The water pours down over the fighting flames, “Hayden? South Exit!” His radio is choppy, and I can't hear what he is trying to convey.

We see him and his counterpart rush out, each one holding a body close to their chest, just as the ceiling above them crashes to the floor, their feet meet the charred, wet grass.

Hayden runs over with a small body pressed against him. Lying the small boy on the stretcher, he starts the handover. I check over the boy quickly. Looking at all the signs his body is giving me, “No pulse!” We rushed him to the ambulance and immediately started bagging with high flow oxygen, silently begging him to breathe, just breathe, kid, come on, breathe for me, as Jamie sets up the oxygen in preparation. Jamie and Hayden push the stretcher towards the ambulance. Breathe, buddy, come on, breathe. Begging for my breath to match his, and finally, I feel it.

“Faint pulse!” Finally, my heart races, and palms sweat, as I watch the boy come back to life.

Hayden falls back against the rig, catching his breath. The fire diminishes, the boy's mother is being treated for smoke inhalation and will be with her son soon, heading to Memorial to get the care they need. My heart pounds out of my chest. Thank God.

“Another save, big guy. Another save.” Hayden slaps my hand as I round the rig, jumping in the driver's seat.

Arriving back at the station just as our shift is about to end, we wait for the bell to ring again. Hayden and I decided to hit the gym inside the station. “Another day, man.” Hayden drops his head as I sit up on the bench.

I shake my head, “and another Save.”

Chapter 12

Lilla

Age 24

“Today we are surrounded by family and friends who applaud you on your outstanding hard work. We’ve cheered you on from students to professionals, and today we reward that hard work and dedication with an achievement pin and the degree you have been working towards. Today, you will cross this stage as a doctor of veterinary medicine. You stand before your colleagues with the same goal: to provide animals with your veterinary expertise, and we know you will do just that. I would like to take a moment to shine a light on those students who worked tirelessly to rise to the top. Here are our three top performers, please stand when your name is called, Lilla Lane, Jenna Martin, and Jazzy Smith.”

The three of us stand proudly, and the audience cheers, clapping for our success and dedication. Pride courses through me; I did it. The loudest audience member is Haley. Shouting, “Hell yeah! That’s my best friend, Go Lilla!” I laugh at her excitement, but I feel exactly what she is feeling. My heart explodes as I walk across this stage, where one of my favorite professors awards me with my pin and degree. I did it. I figured it out.

Who is Lilla Lane?

Mr. Jacobson calls my name, “Lilla Lane, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine.” My smile shows just how I feel, radiant. I turn for my picture, holding my degree up, in my white vet coat, with the world's biggest grin, and tears in my eyes, because I fucking made it. I figured it out, on my own, just as I always have, because I am Lilla Lane, and that’s what I do.

The celebration afterward is full of happiness and jokes about studying relentlessly until we were zombies. Haley went into nursing school, making it possible for us to attend the same college. We ended up staying in our hometown, rooming together, both studying our asses off, while having some fun in between. I got a job at the library, where I got to study and read. I found myself immersed in books that taught me something, each offering new knowledge and power.

After exams, Haley and I would have parties, with the best movies, popcorn, and Root Beer floats. We would have more fun staying in, learning moves from Coyote Ugly, choking on popcorn, and getting brain freezes. For an all-A report, each semester, we treated ourselves to shopping adventures, buying the latest fashion trends, with our own money. We were growing together, learning, living, and loving the life I never thought I could.

Haley’s family sits around the large circular table, laughing at our stories, and I sit around this table, loving the sound.

Their laughter was full of so much love and grace. Even when our stories got crazy, and borderline somewhere around ‘shouldn't tell my parents this,’ they laughed, cheering us on, and all of our crazy adventures. Drifting in parking lots full of snow and ice, praying like hell we didn’t crash. Streaking down the campus sidewalk because of a game of truth or dare got a little too daring. With each story, the memory came to life, and we relived it, and for the first time in my life, I wanted to. I wanted to look back on this season of my life and walk through it again. Even though it was hard and we struggled, it made it worth it.

Life is worth the trials and errors; it’s worth the heartbreaks along the way. Sitting around this table, with my family, I’m so fucking happy I didn’t jump. Looking back, I could see that I was running from everything, trying to free myself from the shackles I was bound in. Only, I was running in the wrong direction. I was face down, burrowing myself deeper. I was looking at the water floating effortlessly under that bridge, at freedom, as if it were costing me something, when, really, it was beneficial; I just had to look up.

“We are so proud of you, young ladies. You have come so far, and you both should be so incredibly proud.”

We are.

Chapter 13

Lilla

It’s been months since my ceremony, and to say I haven’t slowed down is an understatement. “This building is in the perfect location for a vet clinic with enough room space in the back to board animals, with land to provide the perfect outside space.” I look around the property, taking in the layout while imagining all it could be. It’s perfect.

This is the fifth building I’ve looked at, and it’s the only one that shows potential; it has room to grow. It will take the most work, and I’m willing to dive in and give it all I’ve got. “I’ll take it.”

Arriving at our apartment, Haley is in the kitchen, whipping up dinner. “It smells amazing in here, Hals.” Setting my purse down on the island, I take a seat. “I got the building.” A squeal of excitement rushes through me, “I’m doing it, I’m really going to do it.” She pours me an ice-cold Dr. Pepper.

“Cheers to new buildings, new dreams, and a brighter tomorrow.” Haley and I clink glasses. “When do we start remodeling?"