Chapter 1

I pulled a little boy out of the blazing inferno.

Right after I handed him to his father, a woman suddenly shoved past me from behind. She threw her arms around the boy in a frenzy, checking every inch of him in sheer panic.

The little boy beamed at her.

"Mommy, that handsome firefighter saved me!"

She looked at him with doting tenderness.

"Let's go thank him together, sweetie."

As they turned and walked toward me, I fled the scene like a coward.

That woman looked identical to Janelle, the girlfriend I had loved for five years.

1.

Standing a short distance away, I dialed Janelle's number.

Through the crowd, I watched her pull her phone from her purse, glance at the screen, and slip it right back into her pocket.

A colleague walking past saw me on my phone and teased that I was checking in with my girl again.

I couldn't answer. I swallowed the lump in my throat and headed straight for the fire truck.

On the drive back, the day's events replayed in my mind like a horror movie.

During our lunch break, our station had received an emergency call about an apartment fire caused by a short circuit.

When I arrived, a red-eyed man grabbed my arm, pleading that his six-year-old son was still trapped inside.

I patted his hand, told him not to panic, and rushed into the smoke.

When I carried the boy out of the raging flames and handed him over, a woman came out of nowhere and nearly knocked me over.

That anxious, tear-streaked face belonged to no stranger. It was Janelle, the woman I had shared a bed with for five years.

The boy I had just saved wrapped his arms around her neck, calling her Mommy and telling her how I had carried him out.

Just this morning, before I left for my shift, she had her arms wrapped around my neck.

"Jared, tomorrow is our five-year anniversary. Can't you request a day off to stay with me?"

Janelle rarely acted so needy, and seeing her like that melted my heart.

I could only promise her that I'd try to request a shift swap.

She pouted slightly, her voice soft and sweet.

"Never mind. As a firefighter's partner, I need to understand your duty. We can celebrate later."

Back then, I felt so lucky to have such a thoughtful, supportive girlfriend.

Before leaving, I pulled her in and kissed her goodbye.

Yet that same woman was now holding a little boy who called her mother, whispering sweet comforts into his ear.

When she and that man took the boy's hands and started walking toward me, I ran like a fugitive.

The sharp ring of my phone snapped me out of my trance.

It was the Captain.

"Jared, your leave for tomorrow is approved. Don't make it a habit, though."

Even though Janelle told me to forget it, I had still submitted the request as soon as we got back to the station.

I wanted to surprise her.

I never imagined Janelle was the one who had a surprise for me.

It wasn't until late that night that Janelle finally called back, her voice as gentle as always.

"Jared, I'm so sorry. Work was crazy today, and I couldn't pick up."

"Is everything okay?"

I fought to steady my trembling voice. "Nothing. Just calling to let you know I'm safe."

That was our promise.

No matter when my shifts ended, I always had to call and tell her I was alive and well.

Hearing that, she let out a visible sigh of relief.

"As long as you're safe, that's all that matters."

I hesitated before asking, "What about tomorrow…"

Before I could finish, she cut in, saying her company had scheduled a last-minute business trip.

"I'll be out of town for a few days, Jared. When I get back, let's go have a fancy dinner."

I swallowed the words I wanted to say and simply murmured an okay.

We exchanged goodnights and ended the call.

In the dark, I slowly closed my eyes, letting my phone drop to my side.

I hated how cowardly I was.

The truth was staring me right in the face, yet I didn't even have the guts to confront her.

I was terrified that once I asked, the four years of love I treasured so deeply would vanish into thin air.