She came knocking at my door, the sleeves of her sweater were wet, her hair in a messy bun, which meant she didn't go to work today. school, in her case, since she was an elementary school teacher.

She always came to me, no matter the time or the problem. We were so called 'enemies', yet nothing we did supported that term.

"What now, sunshine?" I ask, leaning against the doorframe as my golden retriever, gio, sits by my feet patiently. I had a day off, which was unusual as a firefighter, yet there wasn't anything else I'd rather see than her.