Flames were shooting out from the walls above and around the ovens, but then he spotted a movement on the far side of the room.
“Get out of here, Henrik!” She coughed. “Run! I’ll try to get out through the back, but you can’t come through here.”
Henrik was about to run toward her, but then he realized she was right—she could get out the other way, and he ought to retrace his steps. But he had to be sure she was out first. Then he heard a crash. Part of the ceiling had collapsed, and something landed on top of him.
Nora heard the crash behind her. “Henrik?”
No response.
“Henrik?” she shouted, but the smoke had made her throat dry. She turned and ran through the burning passageway. She’d made it—but Henrik?
“Henrik!”
Then she saw a pile of debris where some roof beams and pieces of the ceiling paneling had come down. Her heart was racing, her lungs exploding, and she was gasping for air. She felt the familiar prickling sensation in the palms of her hands, but instead of being paralyzed, all her senses were heightened. Suddenly she could breathe. She was still coughing, but she felt a surge of energy. She ran toward the pile and could just make out Henrik’s black quilted jacket, one arm sticking out. She grabbed the beam on top of him, heaved it out of the way, did the same with the next one, and took hold of Henrik’s shoulders. He wasn’t moving, and his eyes were closed.
“No!” she screamed. She couldn’t lose him.No, no, no.She couldn’t allow this to happen. He couldn’t be taken from her. Not him too.
This time she had the opportunity to take control of what was happening, and she was determined to do everything she could to make sure he didn’t die.
She tucked her hands under his armpits and began to drag him through the bakery, away from the fire. She could hardly breathe, andshe was wheezing as she gasped for oxygen that wasn’t there. Nothing was left but smoke and heat, yet it was as if her body didn’t understand that. Her lungs kept on battling for air. She held on to Henrik, she could do this.Hadto do this. She had almost reached the door when her legs gave way and everything went black.
45
Nora opened her eyes to find herself being lifted into an ambulance. She was wearing an oxygen mask, and she looked up in absolute panic at the paramedic standing over her.
“You’re going to be fine,” the woman said.
And Henrik?Nora wanted to ask, but she couldn’t get the words out. Her lungs and throat felt as if they were on fire.
She was admitted to the hospital and put in a private room, where she fell asleep.
When a nurse came in to check on her, Nora woke up. She took a deep breath, removed the mask.
“How is he?” she croaked.
The nurse smiled. “He’s going to be okay.”
Nora leaned back against the pillow as the tears began to flow. She wanted to believe the nurse, but she couldn’t, not until she’d seen him for herself.
“Try to get some rest—we’ll let you know when he wakes up.”
After a while the nurse came back. “He’s awake—you can see him if you like.”
Nora needed help to get out of bed, but she managed to make her own way into Henrik’s room, which was next door to hers. He was lying there with his eyes open, still wearing an oxygen mask. He had a dressing on his head, and his shoulders were bandaged. She could hardly believe what she was seeing, and she hurried over to him.
“You’re okay.” She was grinning. “You’re okay!”
He laboriously removed the mask and smiled back at her. “I am.”
“I thought I’d lost you.”
He reached for her and gently pulled her close. She felt the tears pouring down her cheeks as he held her tight. “I’m here.”
She shook her head, her voice shaking. “I was afraid it was too late. When I saw you lying there, I was terrified it was too late.”
“Nothing is too late.” He lifted her chin and looked at her with those eyes that made the whole world tilt on its axis. “And you saved me.”
She kissed him gently.
