Sparks Fly by Laramie Briscoe

I've been burned before, and it wasn’t by fire… After I got divorced, I promised myself two things. I’d give my daughter, Cora, the best of me, and I would start living the life I always wanted to. My brother’s friend, Mark? His personal mission is to make sure I don’t talk myself out of living. I expect him to leave when I tell him I’m a package deal, and Cora comes with me. He doesn’t. He makes me believe that I can have everything I want, even though it scares me to death. I’m still fighting it when there’s a fire at the County Clerks Office, where I’m a float for records, licenses, and registration. As the smoke gets thick, and I can’t find a way out, I’m resigned to what’s going to happen. But then he shows up, and I’m reminded that there are men who run toward things, and not away. When I finally let my guard down. I let those sparks between us fly, hoping like hell they catch fire, and ignite a love I never could’ve imagined. He teaches me that sometimes the bravest thing isn’t just surviving the emergency. It’s trusting someone enough to let them in after. I expect him to leave when I tell him I’m a package deal, and Cora comes with me. He doesn’t. He makes me believe that I can have everything I want, even though it scares me to death. I’m still fighting it when there’s a fire at City Hall, where I’m a receptionist. As the smoke gets thick, and I can’t find a way out, I’m resigned to what’s going to happen. But then he shows up, and I’m reminded that there are men who run toward things, and not away. When I finally let my guard down. I let those sparks between us fly, hoping like hell they catch fire, and ignite a love I never could’ve imagined. He teaches me that sometimes the bravest thing isn’t just surviving the emergency. It’s trusting someone enough to let them in after.