"It's already eleven. Where are you Lucas?"

Ring...

Ring...

"Come on Lucas! Pick up the damn phone."

Ring...

Ring...

The person you are calling is not answering. Please try again later.

Disappointed is not the correct word to explain my condition right now. I don't know what this feeling is... but it is making me uncomfortable. Today, fourteenth February, is our first marriage anniversary and it's already eleven pm, but no sign of Lucas since this evening when he left for his job. The job was urgent so I didn't stop him. After all, saving people from fire is far more important than celebrating anniversary. Despite being from a rich family, Lucas is humble and loves helping people and thus he chose to work as a firefighter instead of joining his father's business. This is the main reason why I fell in love with him four years back and married him last year going against my family.

Thinking who I am? I am Evelyn Maxwell. I work as an editor in a small company and like to pen down my thoughts when I feel like to. My parents and Lucas' parents are friends turned enemies. But to their horror, we fell in love creating a plot like Romeo-Juliet. But instead of killing each other, we eloped and got married. Though Lucas' family has accepted me for their son's sake but my family is still angry. As a result we are not in talking terms. But I hope that one day they understand and forgive us.

Well, that's pretty much all about my life. And right now, I'm waiting for my loving husband in this beautiful white off-shoulder dress which Lucas has gifted me this morning. Looking at the adorned dinner table, I leave a sigh. The bouquet of red roses along with the aromatic rose candles is making the room fragrant like a garden. I walk up to the open window and gaze outside. The sickle shaped moon is proudly smiling in the vast black canvas while some stars twinkle here and there. But soon, few grey clouds start gathering across the sky while the cool breeze picks up her pace a bit. An earthy fragrance hits my nose as the moon plays hide-and-seek with the grey clouds.

"Looks like it's gonna rain. Lucas, where are you?" A slight pinch of anxiety has crawled inside my heart out of nowhere. I never call Lucas when he is at work but tonight he is getting very late.

"Let's watch the news. Maybe the fire was huge." Switching the television on, I start changing the channels one after the other until my eyes stuck on a news channel.

It's getting tough to extinguish the fire. The whole apartment is crumbling down right in front of our eyes. Some of the family members are safely rescued but some are still trapped in the house. The firemen are trying their best to calm the fire down but the tyres kept in the store-house of the apartment are making it impossible.

Please... please someone save my children. Plea...

"My goodness! Lord, please save the lives of those children." Switching the television off, I join my palms together and pray for them. Watching these kinds of things is not my forte. It kills me to see someone in pain.

Crack!

Lightning flashes outside making the dimly lit room illuminate followed by heart-racing growl of the clouds. I rush towards the open window only to get hit by the strong, howling wind. The whole sky has been engulfed by dark clouds.

"Shit! What the hell is happening today?" I close the window while trying to protect my eyes from the flying dust particles.

Growling of clouds and thunderbolts are still creating havoc outside and with that my anxiety increases. I don't know why I'm feeling like this but soon my palms start sweating. I pour a glass of water and drink it at one go.

I have died everyday, waiting for you

Darling, don't be afraid...

"Thank God! Finally, you called me." I heaved a sigh of relief hearing my phone ring along with Lucas' name on the screen.

"Is the fire under control now? And are you okay? It's very stormy outside, you... Hello! Why are you not answering Lucas? Hello!" His call made all my nervousness blurt out in the form of questions but realizing that he is not answering me, I paused.

"Umm... Evelyn. This is Andrew." I am taken aback hearing Lucas' colleague's voice in place of his.

Human mind loves to jump into negative thoughts the moment it is given the chance and same is happening with me. My heart sinks thinking the worst but still, pushing them away I reply, "Ye... yes. What is it Andrew? And why are you calling me from Lucas' phone? Where is Lucas? Please give him the phone."

"I forgot to bring my phone at work, so... that's why and right now we... we are at the City Hospital. Lu..."

"Hospital? Why? Is Lu... Lucas okay?" My heart has reached till my throat and I'm holding my breath with the hope that everything is okay.

"No. Actually, while saving a child, he got trapped and burnt himself." I jerked back hearing the news.

No. This can't be happening. He has to be safe. He must be fine. Maybe it's a prank. Maybe... maybe he wants to surprise me. Yes, that's it. He wants to surprise me.

"Hahaha. Not funny at all Andrew. Tell your friend to stop playing all these pranks with me. I know what he is up to. Tell him that I'm not angry, so no need to give me any special surprises. Just ask him to come home. You know what? Give him the phone. I'll tell him myself." I speak all these with confidence but my pounding heart is slowly breaking my feigned confidence.

"This is not a prank Evelyn. Lucas' condition is... very critical. Doctor's are trying their best but..."

"No! You are lying. Don't... please don't pull these kinds of pranks. Please. No!" I scream my lungs out as my eyes start burning.

"Evelyn. Listen to me carefully. This is not any prank. This is the truth."

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