Ashes to Ashes
Are you a missing person if no one misses you?
It was coming down heavy, almost covering the entire ground. Inches of the flakes piled up on the deck furniture as Nicole looked out the kitchen window. It reminded her of Christmas, and she felt just as excited and happy as she did during that special time of year when she was a little girl. She was getting a gift. Something she had been wanting for months.
What had been a gentle knock turned into a persistent pounding. Nicole rolled her eyes and yelled, “I’m coming!”
She walked quickly through her modest ranch-style home and opened the front door. The unmitigated smell of burning wood tickled her nostrils and the smoke made her cough.
“Nicole, you gotta go. The evacuation is mandatory.” Tim stood there in his uniform, the fire jacket looking heavy and hot in the sweltering summer heat. She had known him since high school, and always had a crush on him. If only she had made better decisions back then.
“I’m coming Tim. My bag’s already in the car.” Nicole grabbed her purse and keys off the little sideboard table in the entryway.
“Where’s James?” asked Tim.
Nicole didn’t bother locking the door as she shut it behind her and stepped onto the front porch. She put on her sunglasses to keep…
