The Price of a Secret

17 | DANGERS OF THE HEART

He couldn't go on with this. It was too unbearable to be so close and not be able to have her. But the pain was eased by anger. Rejection still gnaws at his heart, torn between loving her and hating her.

Simon reflects on the night of the graduation and their proximity. How he managed to resist, he didn't know. Elizabeth looked divine. She seemed like an angel on the stage, and her purity radiated throughout the amphitheater. Even more beautiful than her was Lia. He fell in love with the little girl immediately. He didn't even know he liked children but seeing her made his heart overflow. As if they had some kind of connection.

Connection, he thought. What was happening? As soon as he laid eyes on the little girl, he remembered a crazy dream he had years ago. He was standing in front of a hospital bed, caressing the hair of a young woman. He said he would always be by her side. It was Elizabeth. In the dream, the feeling of joy was immense, and he said that their girl was beautiful.

Could he have dreamt about Lia's birth? It couldn't be. He knew Elizabeth was pregnant, but he didn't know when the baby would be born.

Despite still loving her, Simon didn't believe how deceitful she was. How could she deny giving him money to disappear from her life? Or did she simply forget, as insignificant as he was to her? It couldn't be. He could sense how unsettled she became in his presence. She still felt something.

While contemplating whether to accept the job with Mason or not, the door to his office opens abruptly.

"Boss, what an honor to see you here", Simon says, getting up and going towards the Battalion Chief and his friend, Mark.

"Hey, golden boy". The two embraces.

"I'm good", Simon says, returning behind his desk.

"How's Mike?"

"Recovering, but he still has a long road ahead".

"And how are you?"

"It's tough", Simon says, lowering his face.

"Son, it wasn't your fault, and I've told you that already. The fire was massive. We couldn't look everywhere at once. That's why the guys are trained to know what to do without constant supervision from the bosses".

"I know, Mark. But it's hard to accept".

"You'll get through this. We always do", he says, reflecting.

"What happened? Do you want to talk about it?" Simon noticed Mark's expression turn somber.

"It happened a long time ago. You hadn't even left diapers. We went to contain a fire in an abandoned building, and one of my guys went in to check the perimeter. I knew it was risky, but I allowed it. A wall collapsed on him, and he never walked again". Mark looks off into the distance.

"Wow, Mark, I had no idea".

"Yeah, kid. Bad things happen every day, and we have to move on".

"How did you manage to keep going?"

"I thought about all the good I could miss out on if I gave up on the Fire Department or drowned in my bitterness".

He had a point. Drowning in despair would throw Simon off balance, interfering with his work. He might fail again if he wasn't focused and giving his best.

"Thanks, boss. That helps a lot".

"You're welcome, kid".

"But you didn't come here just to comfort me. Come on, spill it", Simon says with a smile, trying to break the bitter tension that filled the air.