“Declan! We’re over here!”
I hear lots of rustling and gravel falling. “Sophie!”
I sag with relief. My Dec will save me. “Yes, it's me - I have Eli. We’re trapped in the soft play.”
“Okay, baby, you're fine - we've got you.”
Another voice speaks. “We need to get out of here now. Everyone come on - move this rubble and quick.”
“You hear that, Eli? Uncle Dec is here. We’re going to be fine.”
The radio sounds, and there’s lots of shouting right before another crash. “Dec...Dec. What was that?”
No response.
“Dec!” I shout, panic now blatantly evident in my voice, and there is nothing I can do. I try to hide it from Eli, but at this point, I'm terrified.
I hear his muffled voice. “I’m okay, Soph. The roof came down. The other guys had to get out, it's not safe.”
Shit!
I want to tell him to get out, I don't want him to get hurt - I care about him more than me, but I can't. I have Eli. Ineedhim to save Eli.
Eli and I wait, hugging each other curled in a ball on the floor. All of a sudden, I hear movement and I see an arm come into view.
“Dec, I see you!”
“Thank fuck. I’ll get to you in a minute.”
I get up and start to pull away the rubble so that he can get to us quicker. As soon as there is a hole big enough for Eli, I shout, “Eli can fit through here now. Take him out.”
I can’t see Dec's face, he’s wearing his mask and his whole fireman outfit. He stills and doesn't say anything.
What is he waiting for?
“Dec! You need to get Eli out.”
“I'm going to get you both.”
“NO! You said yourself, it's not safe, please, you've got to save him first,please,I'm begging you.”
He eventually nods. “Get him to me.” He says so quietly.
Thank God! Eli is going to be okay. “Come on, sweetie, you can get up now. You have been braver than all the men in the world today, you know that? Uncle Dec is gonna get you out.”
“But what about you, Auntie Sophie?”
My heart lurches. What about me? I hope someone is up there looking down on me right now.
“I’ll be fine, sweetheart.”
I help Eli through the hole, and Dec has him. “I’ll be back, baby.”
“I know you will. Love you, Dec.”
“Love you too, Sophie.” His voice is gruff, as though he is struggling to get the words out. Not the place that I would have liked to tell him I love him for the first time, but scarily it might be the only chance I get.
As he turns around to leave, another fireman walks past him. There is no way of telling who it is in full uniform. “I’ll get her, Dec.”
