Goodbyes and the Birthday Plot
“Don’t do anything crazy for my birthday,” Cole teased, his lips brushing my cheek as he tucked his coffee cup under his arm.
I laughed, already picturing the prank I’d set up—balloons spilling out of the back of the SUV, his favorite chocolate‑cream cake perched on the passenger seat, and that absurd “World’s Best Firefighter” trophy I’d found at the novelty shop.
He kissed me again, a quick, lingering press that felt like a promise, then turned to the driveway, his boots clacking against the pavement.
“I’ll be back before you know it,” he called over his shoulder, the grin in his voice louder than the sirens already echoing down the street.
I slipped into the driver’s seat, the sun catching the glossy surface of the trophy as I placed it on the dashboard.
The engine roared awake, and I pulled out, the early morning air filling the cabin with a crisp, hopeful scent.
Every red balloon swayed with the wind, their strings tangled like the anticipation in my chest.
Inside the SUV, the cake box was secured with a napkin‑tied knot, its frosting a silent promise of celebration.
“He won’t see this coming,” I muttered, feeling the thrill of surprise coil tighter with each turn of the wheels.
When the station’s iron gates loomed ahead, my heart beat a steady rhythm, matching the thrum of the engine.
All I could think was how his eyes would widen, how the crew would laugh, how the day would finally feel like a birthday at last.
The Silent Station
I flung the door open, the familiar clang of the firehouse bell echoing off the concrete.
Instead of the usual chatter and clatter of helmets, a heavy silence hung in the air, like a curtain drawn tight.
Every firefighter stood still, eyes fixed on the doorway, their faces blank, the usual grin missing.
The smell of burnt coffee lingered, but the fresh scent of my balloons cut sharply through it.
I tightened my grip on the cake box, the rubbery strings slipping between my fingers.
“Hey, what’s the—” I began, but the words died as a figure stepped out from the office.
Captain Ortega’s shoulders were squared, his badge catching the dim light, his gaze fixed on me with a weight that pressed my chest.
He took a slow breath, his eyes scanning the empty space where Cole should have been.
“Megan… nobody reached you?”
Captain Ortega’s News
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