Ring the Bell

<h4 class=ql-align-center>The courage to walk into the flames.</h4><h4 class=ql-align-center>The knowledge to come out when the job's done.</h4><p><span style=color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>The memory arrived unbidden just suddenly there sharp as broken glass. The child had come to him again as she had countless times since the first awful midnight years ago. His mouth opened. His lips moved soundlessly screaming </span><em style=color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>No! No!</em></p><p><span style=color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>Virginia read about the tragedy in the paper the day after it happened. There was a house fire. A child climbed out a window onto a porch roof. The firefighters were almost to her but something burning fell from above and knocked her tumbling to the ground. The little girl died instantly.</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>True to his nature Wayne had come home from the department the next morning and not said a word about the call. That night as they lay in bed Virginia finally brought up the article in the paper. Knowing she was violating their unspoken rule she asked Were you there?</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>Virginia felt him shudder. He replied with a simple Yes. Heavy minutes crawled by before he added I don't want to talk about it.</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>As Wayne was leaving for his next shift after the fire he stopped in the doorway and turned back to face her.</span></p><p><span style=color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>You should know he said it will not happen again. The determination in his voice frightened her. Next time I'll get that baby or I won't be coming home.</span></p>