Drenched from the sprinklers, I was panting and coughing, releasing fear and smoke out of my lungs. It was too painful to breath. My lungs felt like they were being squeezed. I didn’t realize how terrified I was until it was over. My muscles felt tight, unable to move as ashes fell on me. Austin positioned himself on bended knee, shoulders slumped with his head down. It was the first time I’d seen him vulnerable, so weak and speechless. My heart went out to him. He did it for all of us, to keep us safe. I wanted to run to him, to thank him; it was the least I could do. But when I saw his friends already gathered there, I became hesitant and shy at the thought. Just when I thought my legs would give out on me, Davin reached for me and pulled me into a warm hug. “Good to see you too, Davin,” I said in hoarse whispers. His hug heated through my body, as if he knew what I needed. Light radiated around us and just like before, the hug released the shock of all that I had witnessed and the adrenaline that was bottled inside.
