Smoke & Ember

He was sent to fight the fire. He didn't expect to find her in its path.

I was supposed to parachute into Blacktail Ridge, cut a fireline, and get out.

But the woman standing in the smoke is Ember Greene- my best friend's little sister, and the one girl I was never supposed to fall for.

Six years ago, Ember lost everything in a wildfire that rewrote both our lives. She disappeared, and I never stopped wondering where she went. Now I've landed in her burn zone, and she's back at the ranch she swore she'd never return to. She's still grieving, angry, and more stubborn than ever.

The flames aren't the only thing we're battling. She doesn't trust me. Doesn't trust God. But I see the girl I used to know buried under ash and armor, and I'd walk through fire to bring her back.

We've got a fire bearing down on us, one last chance at something real, and no guarantee we'll make it out.