Fall from Love

relax a bit.
    I make it back to my car and glance to my left, seeing Carter giving me a small wave before he pulls away. My eyes follow his car until it’s gone, out of sight, and I exhale the breath I didn’t know I’d been holding.

 
     
    Chapter Six
     
    We should all start to live before we get too old. Fear is stupid. So are regrets.
    ~ Marilyn Monroe
     
    CARTER
    I’m lying in bed, staring at the shadows bouncing across my ceiling. The wind is howling through the trees and I grab my pillow to press it over my head, hoping to drown the high-pitched sound. That sound never used to bother me, but now, unwelcome memories come along with it.
    “Hey, is everything okay?” Paul asked me as I walked up to the station headquarters.
    “Yeah, everything is just great,” I answered, not intending to sound so bitter.
    “Hey, we heard about your dad, man. I’m really sorry; that’s gotta be tough on you and your family. You should be with them right now, not here. I’ve already found someone to replace you for this rescue.”
    “What’s the call?” I asked, ignoring his previous comment.
    “A hiker is stuck up on the ridge. He fell about twenty-feet and injured his right leg. It should be a pretty easy rescue, so I think you should just head home.”
    I shook my head. “I want to be here. I need to be here. Being at home right now is... it just sucks, alright?”
    Paul swallowed hard. “Alright, man, if that’s what you need. Adam just finished his training and since this will be his first rescue, it wouldn’t hurt to have you up there looking out for him.”
    I glanced over and saw a guy walking over to us. He had a sparkle in his eye and I could tell that he was anxious to get up the mountain. I could remember what it felt like to be on your first rescue; the anxiety and adrenaline coursing through your veins... there’s nothing else like it.
    “Hey, I’m Adam.” He held his hand out and I reached out to grab it.
    “Carter. Nice to meet you, man.”
    Paul slapped Adam on the back before walking off, telling him, “Just stick close to Carter; he’s the best guy out here.”
    The hike up to the ridge wasn’t too bad. The weather was cooperating, for the most part, and by the time we got to the top, we were ahead of schedule. It wasn’t until we were securing the patient’s leg in a brace and getting him ready to descend that the weather had taken a turn for the worse. A strong gust of wind came out of nowhere and nearly knocked me over.
    “Shit,” I said, looking over at Paul. “We need to get down before it gets any worse up here.”
    “Yeah, I think we’re good to start heading back down. Jake and I can handle carrying down the patient. You and Adam lead the way, we’ll be just a few minutes behind you. I’ll radio you if we have any issues.”
    “Sounds good.” I looked over at Adam as the rain started coming down. “Are you ready?”
    “Yeah,” he said, nodding.
    We were just a few minutes into our descent when the storm rolled in, full force, making things more complicated for us. The rain was coming down so hard that I had trouble seeing the trail along the steep ridge in front of me. The wind howled and thunder echoed off the mountains surrounding us.
    “We’re gonna take this real slow!” I yelled to Adam behind me.
    My nerves were heightened, knowing, with the storm there was even more room for another accident if we weren’t careful. Just then, a loud thunder clap broke through the air and a surge of wind blew in...
    When I open my eyes, I’m breathing hard, and my body is covered in a thin layer of sweat. I rub my eyes almost to the point of pain, but I want to make sure I’m awake, that the nightmare I was having is over. Blinking hard, I try to focus, seeing my desk lamp still glowing in the corner. I shake my head and swallow hard, trying to get myself under control.
    There’s a faint buzzing noise coming from the living room downstairs, telling me Josh fell asleep on the couch with the T.V. on again. Normally, it annoys the shit outta me when he does that because I have to hear him complain about how much the couch sucks and how his back is sore, but tonight, I’m thankful that he isn’t in the room next to me. In my dream, I was falling and screaming; I’m not sure if those sounds actually made it out into reality.
    I swing my feet off the bed and shuffle my body down the stairs. Leaning over, I click off the T.V. and shake Josh awake, telling him to go to