And then Daryl did something that absolutely floored me.

He lowered his face to mine and kissed me.

26 Eight years ago

Molly

Beep, beep, beep, beep, beep…

Beep, beep, beep, beep, beep…

Beep, beep, beep, beep, beep…

The sound of constant beeping continued to pierce my eardrums, and I reluctantly dragged myself from my dreams and into consciousness.

The moment I opened my eyes, my hand moved to my throat.

Thick, dark smoke was all around me, making it almost impossible to breathe.

"Mom?"

Panic stricken, I kicked the covers off my body and leapt out of bed.

"Dad!"

The alarm in my bedroom continued to beep over and over, so loud that it made me feel dizzy.

"Fire!" I screamed, suddenly realizing what was happening and what the beeping signified. "Help!"

Coughing and spluttering, I raced for my bedroom door and curled my hand around the door knob, only to scream and jerk away when piping hot pain shot through my fingers.

"Somebody help me!" I screamed at the top of my lungs. "There's a fire!" Grabbing a sweater off my bedroom floor, I used it to protect my hand as I yanked the door open.

"Ahhhh," I screamed as an inferno of angry orange flames engulfed my room.

Staggering backwards, I fell onto the carpet, screaming out in agony as my nightdress went up in flames.

I was on fire.

"Mama!" I cried, choking on the smoke and heat. "Help me… It hurts!"

Screaming so hard and loud, I dragged myself on my hands and knees away from the door, beyond terrified when the flames continued to chase me deeper into my room.

"Please, Mommy! Daddy!" I cried, shaking violently now. "Make it stop…"

Feeling woozy, I managed to drag myself to the window before the pain got the better of me.

I couldn’t take it.

I couldn’t breathe.

I needed it to just stop.

"Molly!" I thought I heard my name, but I was falling in and out of consciousness. The sound of glass shattering filled the air. "Molly, I'm here!"

"Daddy?" I slurred, body engulfed in flames. "No…don’t touch me!" I screamed out in agony when hands came around my body. "Please…stop…it hurts…"

And then I smelled him.

Grass and peppermint.

I felt him.

Warmth and tenderness.

I heard him.

Familiar and comforting.

"I've got you." Daryl was crying hard as he pulled my burned and mangled body towards the broken window. "Hold on, Dolly. Please don’t leave me…"

27 Present Day

Molly

Daryl King was ten years old when he ran into a burning house and pulled me to safety.

It was the most courageous thing I had ever witnessed another human being do.

He was only a child back then.

My best friend.

And he saved my life.

I was the sole survivor of an inferno that claimed the lives of both my mother and baby brother.

I was alive right now because of the boy whose arms were wrapped around me.

Because of the boy whose mouth was on mine.