episode 2 – igniting feelingsA firefighter is losing the battle to restrain his emotions around a woman who was the victim of a tragic fire.
Did you skip an episode?
A firefighter is losing the battle to restrain his emotions around a woman who was the victim of a tragic fire.
Meant to Be
Jeremiah leaves Molly to get settled in the hotel, but his mind remains with her. She finds solace from her turbulent thoughts during a warm shower, reinforcing his kindness. After drying off, Molly slips into comfortable clothes and lies on the lonely bed. The ochre walls, meant to soothe, now seem to be closing in on her.
When Molly tires of aimlessly switching television channels, she phones Jeremiah, talking for more than an hour. Both of them struggle to end their enjoyable conversation.
Finally, Molly says, “Can I invite you over for a hotel breakfast in the morning? I hear the fruit cocktail with scrambled eggs is amazing.”
He smiles, knowing the meal is mediocre at best.
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
The next morning, they dine together while making a list of the necessary steps to piece Molly’s life back together. The comforting warmth of the hotel buffet contrasts the cold reality of Molly’s past. It feels like a haven where they can plan a brighter future. Since she is jobless, Jeremiah continues caring for her needs.
Regular phone conversations veer from mundane topics, delving into ways to deal with emotional conflicts, then ideal qualities of a mate. After a couple of weeks of breakfasts, she invites him up to her hotel room. They sit at a distance from each other. She feels a growing debt for his kindness, while he fears taking advantage of her vulnerability. So, he discusses future accommodations.
“During the four days I’m at the firehouse, no one is in my apartment. If you like, you could stay there.”
Her eyes light up at the offer.
“What about the three days you’re home each week?”
He jokingly replies, “You can take a shift at the firehouse.”
“I’m probably better at starting fires than putting them out,” she says with an eerie smile before packing up her few possessions. “Just promise to treat me kindly.”
Meant for Closeness
Jeremiah and Molly decide to become roommates, soon leading to their romantic involvement. Molly visits the post office to forward her mail to the new address. The clerk hands her several envelopes that the office has been holding.
While shuffling through them to isolate the junk, she sees three from someone who disturbs her. Inside one handwritten letter is the message: “Come back to me.” She rips all three in half and discards them with the junk mail.
To cope with negative flashbacks, she takes deep breaths and walks around the block. Automobile horns and shouts of angry drivers put her nerves more on edge. So she finds a quiet spot on a park bench to reflect on past decisions. At home, Molly learns the time of mail drops, and rushes to be the first to retrieve any letters that continue from the mysterious writer.
As they rollerblade along the beach, laughter and light-hearted banter fill the air. But beneath the surface of Molly’s carefree smile lies a well of unresolved pain and fear. These joyous moments she shares with Jeremiah are an improvement over her troubled past.
When he is at the fire station, they spend much time on the phone laughing at fond memories and planning activities for his off days.
“At some point, I’d like to introduce you to my parents,” Jeremiah says. “I think they’ll love you.”
“Not everyone has… a loving family,” she responds bitterly.
“Oh, Molly. I’m sorry to rekindle bad memories.”
"That’s okay. The wounds are still fresh. In the future, I’d love to meet your parents.”
Molly enjoys museums and restaurants with Jeremiah. They pretend he is chasing her on a merry-go-round as horses move up and down to enchanting music.
While getting off the ride, he gently touches her shoulder from behind.
“I caught you!”
She gasps and flinches with eyes of terror.
“Oh! Don’t… I mean, whew, you startled me.”
He recognizes that even when the two of them are home alone, walking into a room without announcing his presence startles her. For now, they hold hands while he thinks of a gift to cheer her up. They end the last day before his next shift with enjoyable memories.
While Jeremiah is away, Molly checks the mail as usual, retrieving another envelope with a recognizable return address. Molly's hands shake as she opens the letter. The familiar scrawl shortens her uneven breaths and breaks out a cold sweat on her forehead. Instead of stashing it away with the others, she drops the letter into the trash, feeling the walls close in around her.
Molly doesn’t walk around the block. This time, she grabs her rollerblades and heads out for mental clarity. When she skates on the airy beach, she finds strength and freedom in the rhythm. Later, Jeremiah returns home with a surprise that she is eager to open.
She asks with wide-open eyes, “Ooh, what’s in the bag?”
“Remember that bakery we saw the other day? Well… tada!”
Molly removes a slice of cheesecake, her eyes lighting up her typically dark expression. “It looks delicious. Thanks so much! Can I eat it now?” she asks, a rare sparkle of joy breaking through her downcast demeanor.
“Certainly, it’s your gift!”
Jeremiah replies, his heart warming at the sight of her joy.
In the days ahead, Molly becomes more comfortable in Jeremiah's presence. Yet, her efforts to share a dark secret fail. Each time she begins, her throat tightens and her heart pounds, concealing her source of anxiety.
Molly awakens in the still of night, panting and shouting, “Stop! Stop it!” Kicking off the sheets, she rolls onto the floor, awakening from her nightmare, covered in perspiration. Glad that Jeremiah is at the fire station, she gets up to check the locks on the door.
Walking barefoot across the cold floor sends a shiver down her spine as she sips tepid, metallic tap water. Before falling asleep, she wonders how long she can conceal the nightmares, or if Jeremiah is aware of them without yet discussing it.
Not Meant to Read
One morning, when Jeremiah is home, she sleeps in late. He checks the mail and brings in a handwritten letter addressed to Molly, placing it on the table. She awakens while he’s cooking breakfast. The sight of the envelope sends her into a state of panic, with flailing arms and stuttering regressions.
“Where? Where did you get this from?”
“It was in the mailbox. Is everything all right?”
“Fine,” she retorts. “I’m the one… the one who should check the mailbox.”
Sensing an irritation that could undermine their peace, he says, “Look, we shouldn’t keep secrets. If there’s something wrong, tell me.”
Her tenseness softens, not wanting to antagonize someone larger than her. “Thanks. Everything is fine.”
Days later, Jeremiah does the laundry while Molly is grocery shopping. When he puts his socks away, he notices several more unopened letters like the one from the mailbox at the bottom of the drawer.
Her prior reaction to the letters and refusal to read a stash of them evokes curiosity. For her safety, he invades her privacy, reading one. The message is threatening, as though from a stalker or former lover, with the words: “I know what you did.”
When Molly returns home with two grocery bags, Jeremiah helps her put the food away.
Then he asks, “Who’s Alex?”
Molly’s face pales, and a jar of orange juice slips through her fingers, shattering on the floor with a sharp crash. As Jeremiah kneels to clean up the mess, he notices her trembling, her eyes wide with fear and pain.
“Molly, I’m here. You don’t have to face this alone. I won’t force an answer, but there appears to be something driving a wedge in our relationship.”
Continued…
Prevent plot spoilers by beginning with the first episode of a story. Return twice weekly for miniseries. Use of this material for generative training or republication in any format without authorization is prohibited. Any relation to actual persons or events is coincidental. Login provides the most immersive experience. Story includes one or more generative AI images or silent videos to immerse viewers in the scenes.
