44
Olivia
“I’m coming,” Aiden said and I knew he shouldn’t.
He’d thrown his jacket over him and jumped into the fire to come for me.
I know that just happened but my head is so light and my mind so foggy it feels like a long time ago.
The smoke surrounding me is so strong I can barely think. Barely breathe. Barely see.
The explosions earlier knocked me to the ground and then suddenly the smoke came rising from the gap under the door.
I tried using the lamp to knock on the door so someone would open it even though I doubted anyone would be around. There was no one up here when we first came on the floor. Only us.
I knocked on that door until my hands got tired, then the heat coming from outside it was too much and I had to back away.
Heavy smoke still flows in like a thick fog and I’m engulfed by it. the air from the window helped a little, but it’s not anymore.
There’s too much smoke.
Too much and I can’t breathe.
My knees turn to water as the lightheaded sensation overpowers me and I’m falling.
I hit the floor sinking into the plush white carpet and darkness comes, then light.
“Olivia wake up,” says a kind voice I haven’t heard in too long. “wake up my child.”
“Papa?” I ask and my eyes flutter open.
His face looms brightly before me and he looks so much like Eric.
I know this has to be a dream because he’s not able to see me anymore. not when he was alive and not when he’s dead.
“Olivia Falcione, you have to get up.” his voice is like a gentle whisper, speaking a name I always wanted and never could have.
“That’s not my name,” I mumble and his face turns sad.
“It should have been, now please take my hand.” He reaches out his hand to me and I think of his words.
How I wished I could have had him in my life and he could have been the kind of father who belonged to us.
“Please,” he beckons and just like always I forgive him and take his hand.
The moment I do, he disappears and my eyes snap wide open as my name is being shouted.
There’s a loud crashing against the door.
It’s Aiden and it sounds like he has something heavy.
“Olivia are you in there?” he calls out.
“I am!” I reply but my voice is so hoarse and grainy I can barely hear myself. “Aiden.” I call out louder.
“I’m coming. Don’t worry I’m coming to get you.”
He crashes against the door two more times and then it flies open, cracking as it does.