“Dad?”
The voice came from faraway like a hand reaching down through impenetrable darkness to offer a way back to the light.
“Dad?”
John’s exhaustion called out to him, told him to lie still, that he had done his job and done it well, that he could allow his heart to stop beating now, let his lungs cease their effort of pulling new air. It was telling him to ignore the voice, that he deserved the rest, that he could let other people carry the burdens from now on.
“Dad? Please…”
A small ember sparked, and as if Sarah’s voice were a gentle breeze, it began to glow hotter and add its heat to other embers that had nearly gone out. He felt his lungs inflate as cool air rushed in, and he felt his heart contract, at first slowly, but then faster and with more assurance. He managed to open h
