Parallel Lives

Chapter 23: Happy Place - Jacob

   (Sorry this was kinda late. This will once again be heartwarming though. I hope you guys will enjoy this chapter)!

   We had just come back from working on a car fire when we walked in and saw Sabrina on the couch with Soleil beside her. "You're supposed to be in school!" Tommy exclaimed in surprise. With one look at her, I could tell Sabrina had been crying. "What's wrong?" I asked. "I couldn't take it anymore, Jacob. My fucking history teacher was playing a VHS tape that she recorded two weeks ago! I just kept getting reminded of everything! It was like I was there! I fucking slid out the window! I just couldn't take it!" Sabrina cried as she explained everything.

   I knew her history teacher. Angela, Daniel, and I had gone to the same school Sabrina was currently in at different times and Mrs. Chandler was our Freshman year history teacher. She was Angela's favorite teacher when she first went to the school but Daniel and I didn't really like her. She was a bitch. She told us that our dream of becoming firefighters would never happen. That we would never succeed. Angela would defend Mrs. Chandler to the point where she provided evidence that she wasn't a bitch. I never told her what the bitch told me to preserve her innocent mindset. She was in 7th grade when we were Freshman so of course she didn't know. Looks like Daniel and I were correct though. I know Angela would be pissed off too if she was still here. To be fair, Mrs. Chandler didn't know about Sabrina, but why didn't she think about the trauma that kids might have faced from that day? Playing the tape could mentally fuck kids up even more.

   "Are you ok?" Captain Thomas asked. Sabrina tilted her hand, symbolizing that she was kind of ok. "Jakey, I really think I have PTSD." Sabrina shared in a scared tone. "Why?" I asked. Sabrina began explaining what she felt during history class. I felt my heart sinking the more she spoke. She had a PTSD flashback. Her therapist told me about the symptoms and told me to keep a lookout in case she had them. "Yeah. I think you do. On Friday we gotta tell your therapist." I voiced. Sabrina nodded in agreement. We took off our gear and put it away while giving Sabrina some space. We returned to comfort her, since she was still upset.

   "I was watching Dad and Angela's last moments alive. And Daniel's." Sabrina shared. I teared up when she mentioned him. We still hadn't found Daniel's body. His unit was found, except for him. We all knew he was dead, but we just couldn't find his body. Daniel's family refused to have a funeral until he was found. I didn't have the heart to tell them that we may never find him. I continued to keep the hope that we would.

   "I should've told your teachers about what you went through. I'm sorry." I muttered. "It's ok, Jacob. It's not your fault." Sabrina expressed. That made me feel a bit better, but I just couldn't shake off the fact that Mrs. Chandler played the tape without even thinking about what it could do to everyone in the class. "Did she have the TV in the room on that day?" I questioned. "I think so. I heard that all the teachers had their TVs connected and were playing the news. All the kids watched as everything happened. Mrs. Chandler said something like 'when most of us watched it.' So she definitely did have the TV connected." Sabrina answered. "Then why the fuck would she play it again for all the kids to see?" I asked, feeling angry. "She said that since today made two weeks since everything, she was gonna play it." Sabrina replied. I sighed angrily.

   "Why do I feel like she was hinting at you when she said 'most of us?'" Tommy wondered. "Most likely since yesterday she said that I was gone for two weeks and wasn't paying attention." Sabrina mentioned. Anger pierced throughout my body. "I couldn't stand that bitch for a reason!" I yelled. Sabrina giggled, which made me a bit happy. "Why are you laughing?" I asked. "The way you said it was funny." Sabrina answered. I smiled and ruffled her hair.

   "Well kid, don't worry about it. You're safe with us." Jimmy said. "I know I am. I came here for a reason." Sabrina voiced. "And why's that?" Donny asked. "Because this place is my happy place. You guys make me happy. Not school. I just tolerate it. But when I'm here, I'm happy. Even during the summer and before two weeks ago and even after. I'm happy and safe every time I'm here." Sabrina went on. Tears brimmed at my eyes hearing her. I could see the guys have the same look on their faces.

   "You're gonna make us cry, kid." Donny mumbled, batting at his eyes. "I'm already crying." Tommy shared. We looked at him and saw tears streaming down his face. We all laughed loudly as he chuckled, wiping them away. Sabrina hugged him tightly while giggling. "You big baby!" I joked. We were always happy before Sabrina and Tommy came, but I genuinely think they make this firehouse better, including Bri. They just made us stick together like glue. If one or even both of them died, I don't think we'd be close like this anymore.

   I began to think about that fact. We were the first firehouse there and we all made it out. We all survived. Other firehouses didn't have that luxury. Daniel's unit had only four people left, including his battalion chief and three of his guys. We had everyone, including our probie and junior. I know if Tommy died, we wouldn't be the same. If Bri died, we wouldn't be the same either. We'd disconnect from each other. We would separate. I knew the guys felt the same way I felt. I knew them well enough. Tommy and Sabrina make this my happy place, along with everyone else. They make everyone happy.

   (That's sweet! I hope you guys enjoyed this! The next chapter will get bad so stay tuned for that. See ya)!