Page 105 of Embers in the Dark

It’s a voice that I’d recognize anywhere.

It’s a voice that has pulled me from my hardest moments when I felt like I was never going to make it home.

It’s the voice that brought me home.

It’shervoice.

I feel her presence at the gurney, and I turn around. I’m standing next to the woman from my past. She’s focused on Noah, doting over her son, who sounds relieved to know his mother is by his side. She hasn’t noticed me yet. But I’m stunned in place. I’m paralyzed by her presence. It’s like all my air has vanished from my lungs. She’s taken my air because it’s always been hers, since that night.

I continue to stand there. She must sense me and she turns to look over. It’s then I see the shock overtake her features when she realizes it’s me.

“Ty?”

“Indy…”

River walks up to us. “Do you two know each other?”

She stammers, “Um, yeah, we, uh?—”

“Yeah. She’s my wife,” I finally say.