Fire Burning

Sarah

I didn't see much during the flight.

The window seat gave me a view of the sky, but I spent most of it asleep-if you could call it that. It was more like drifting in and out of numbness. I woke up when the wheels touched down, a jolt shaking me into awareness. Getting off the plane was easy. Finding a woman I'd never met in my life? Not so much.

I wandered through the terminal, my eyes scanning the people crowding near the arrival gate. Some held signs. Others held flowers. A few kids clung to their parents as loved ones stepped into their arms. I slowed my pace on the way to baggage claim. There was no rush. I wasn't eager to meet her.

Sometimes, the further I get from home, the more real my mother's death feels. Like every step I take makes it harder to pretend she's still somewhere nearby.

I spotted my navy blue suitcase and black duffel bag circling the carousel. As I pulled them off, I caught a glimpse of someone staring at me.

A woman. Tall, with short, wavy brown hair that grazed her shoulders. Her eyes were a fierce, deep-ocean blue. I didn't know her-but something about her gaze felt familiar. Like I should know her. Like maybe part of me did.

She walked through the crowd with confidence, her heels clicking softly against the airport floor. She didn't hesitate. I stood frozen until she stopped in front of me.

"I'm hoping you're Em? I'm Sarah," she said, extending a hand. A warm smile tugged at her lips, revealing faint dimples.

I hesitated before taking it. Her grip was gentle but steady.

"Yeah... nice to meet you," I said quietly. "Sorry, this is all a bit overwhelming."

Sarah nodded, watching me fidget with my hands. Then, without a word, she took my suitcase from me and turned to lead the way. I followed close behind, gripping the strap of my duffel bag.

"I'll take you straight home. I set your room up, but I didn't do much. I figured you'd want to decorate it yourself. You're more than welcome to." She glanced back. "You'll also get to meet my kids."

We reached her red van. The passenger side had a bit of rust curling along the edge and a long crack etched into the window like a lightning bolt. She opened the trunk for my bags and then climbed into the driver's seat.

"I have one daughter and two sons-all around your age," she said as she started the engine. "School's out for summer, so you'll have time to settle in before anything serious begins."

I nodded and buckled up, keeping my bag close to my chest like a shield.

The city disappeared quickly. Buildings turned into houses, houses into fields, and then we were surrounded by trees and sky. I watched as cows grazed lazily in pastures and horses flicked their tails, standing in clusters. Birds cut across the sky in graceful arcs, riding the breeze like they had nowhere to be.

I rolled the window down and let the wind touch my skin. The air smelled clean-grass, sun, earth.

The trees were still green here. No sign of age or decay. It felt like the world had paused in this place.

And despite the nerves bubbling inside me, something about the open space made me breathe a little deeper.

Maybe... I could find her here.

Maybe I could find pieces of my mom.

This was for her. For both of us.

I will hold on. I just have to be stronger.

"Ah, here we are, Emera."

"Please just call me Em," I said.

The house was tall, painted a soft blue with navy shutters. A wide porch wrapped around the front, every step decorated with a pot of blooming flowers. The railing was tangled with morning glories. A man stood out front wiping his hands on a yellow towel. He was tall, with a soft beard and sandy-blond hair tied into a small bun. His eyes were blue, just like Sarah's.