Backdraft (#5 of The Firemans Promise)

4

"Couples that learn how to persevere through the tough times are the ones that emerge with even stronger relationships."
-Focus On The Family-
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I came to a complete stop in the waiting room. My wife was bent over in the chair the blade of her palm against her forehead constant tears streaming down her cheeks lips pursed, her ponytail messy. I put my arms around her and she responded to them by coming closer letting it all go.
"It's all my fault.." She sobbed into my industrial jacket, "I should have been with her when she was playing outside Mike."
"You couldn't have done anything except probably you would be in there and Annabeth would be out here." I say.
"I know..." She cried, "It should be me in there, it should be me!!"
"Don't say that.." I say, "Our little girl is tough as
nails."
She looked me in the eyes everything smeared and smudged from her crying. She nodded.
"She'll come out ontop."
I let her cry on me again when we sat in one of the overnight recliners. I took off my jacket putting it on her as she snuggled into my side her cheek pressed against my chest as I brushed my thumb against the middle of her palm. We hadn't cuddled in years since I came back home. She hiccuped a few times when I rested my chin on the top of her head. Derek came out of Anna's room looking like a hot mess as staff members followed catching my wifes eye and she knew exactly what was going on.
"She still hasn't reacted to the antivenom yet." I said painfully.
She shrieked hitting my shoulders sobbing and she lost it. I looked at her when she looked away trying to hide it. I wiped a black line of her mascara and whatever else it was off with my thumb.
"She still has time love, she still has time to get better." She nodded and I hoped I was right.