Embers

Sadie ran, turning her back on the flames and smoke in the distance. Breathing heavily, she gasped in some air and pushed her gait into a sprint. She knew where Nory would be. She also knew that she had started the fire.1

It wasn’t too late for passing cars but it was dark enough to be ignored by their drivers. Half-tripping over her own two feet, Sadie slowed to a stop as she reached where Nory was resting on the sidewalk, her back against the barrier of the bridge, her legs sticking out unceremoniously.2

“Why the hell…? Why did you do that?” Sadie gasped as she stumbled to a stop and leaned over to rest her hands on her knees.3

Eleanor called Nory looked up at Sadie with large, passive eyes, a lit cigarette docked between her lips.4

Out of breath, Sadie slung her weight against the barrier. Slouching over, she took several deep breaths of the crisp night air until her panting began to subside. Trying to ignore the scent of fresh smoke that veiled Nory, she hung her head slightly and looked over the edge at the dark water below.5

Nory turned to extend her arm and grab the railing with her hand. Sadie watched Eleanor called Nory’s bitten nails as Nory pulled herself to her feet.6

She calmly plucked the cigarette out of her mouth and hurtled it into the river below.7

Sadie didn’t move when Nory slid over to her, and put her arm around her waist, nuzzling into her neck.8

Sadie sighed and closed her eyes.9

“Nor…”10

“Mmm.”11

Sadie sighed and turned to slip her arms around Eleanor’s waist. Nory smiled, put her hands on Sadie’s shoulders and leaned into a kiss, which Sadie soundly returned.12

They drew back after a minute, their foreheads resting together; Sadie’s eyes were closed; Nory’s were open but lidded and were watching Sadie’s eyelids.13

“You would want to make out while the town burns down,” Sadie breathed. She opened her eyes and pulled back suddenly.14

“Nor. You can’t do these things.”15

“The embers only asked politely,” Eleanor called Nory whispered with wide eyes.16

Sadie shook her head at Nory’s usual enigmatic answer. Nory could be such a child, giggling at the stars, carrying on conversations with the weeds in the sidewalk, and then suddenly her eyes would be ponds of a pain that she couldn’t possibly know.17

“This is bad. You can’t do this,” Sadie said decisively.18

“You can fix me,” Nory said in a quiet, distressing voice. She tentatively held out her hand with a lost look in her eyes that was heartbreaking.19

Sadie looked down. It was over a minute before Sadie raised her head yet Nory still held her hand out like a lost child. Sadie sighed and reached out with her left hand to grasp Nory’s.20

“Come here,” Sadie said pulling Nory into her arms. Nory happily sank into her warm embrace and buried her face into the crook of Sadie’s neck.21

Sadie smiled sadly.22

“My alley cat…no more burning buildings, okay? Not even if the embers beg. Okay?”23

Nory nodded into Sadie’s shoulder and squeezed her eyes shut.24