My phone chimed, the cheery sound slicing through thick layers of despair and despondency like a serrated blade.
Plane tickets. It left in 45 minutes. Non-stop to SeaTac.
Alice. That beautiful, wonderful, omniscient freak.
"I will never leave you again, Bella."
Sniffling, her mania abated for the moment.
It fueled me, forcing my feet faster in the dark, acrid night, doused the distance from her in gasoline and struck the match that set my world on fire.
"Where are you?"
Her probing curiosity still in full effect, testing me, challenging me on tiptoes.
"I'm coming home, my love."
