The kind of man

He could still feel her kiss on his lips. As he ran through the fire, he could only hear Casey's last whispered words to him- Be Careful. As he finally got away from the engulfment of flames he ran towards what he knew was woods. The fire was still burning- he could feel it. Putting it out was the only option. The only resemblence of a shirt was the collar left around his neck. The fire had burned it before devouring the skin below. His jeans were now mere ashes. His leather belt left what now looked like a tattoo of unburned skin around his waist. The spurs on the back of his boots made a clang clang sound with each step he took. His breathing was heavy and labored. He ran into the night as fast as his legs would carry him. As he ran her words echoed in his mind and a little round face with a toothless smile filled his eyes. He had to keep going. He couldn't stop, not until he got to that house. The cool air all around him was no comfort for his charred body. The house he was looking for finally came into view. As he approached the house he began to scream for help. No one looks out a window, no one yells back. Barking dogs greeted a scantily clothed stranger as he walked onto the carport. "Mrs. Melba please help me! I been burned! Call 911! " he calls out as he kicks on the door. Someone yells from the inside "Do I need to call 911?" "Yes! Please." As she opens the door and sees this scared, burned man, her heart skips a beat. She hurries to call for help and then back to the hurt man on her carport. She asks him who she can call for him and he tells her his Daddy and gives her the phone number. He asks for water and she helps him drink the cold, quinching liquid. As they sit there waiting for help to arrive, he apologizes for at least the third time for waking her up. She chastises, "Heath! Stop apologizing!". As the precious minutes pass, he realizes that his injuries are life threatening. He looks at his guardian angel and says, " If I don't make it please tell my little boy, Gunner, that I love him." She looks at him in awe and promises that she will. The ambulance roars into the drive with sirens blaring and lights flashing. As they open up the back doors and prepare to get a patient up off the ground onto a stretcher, they watch in amazement as he gets up and WALKS into the ambulence. They race away into the chilly evening and he begins his journey.

Heath's incentive to get to that house that night was a little boy that he still had to teach to read. He still had to take him to Disney World. He had to watch him play his first pee wee football game. He had to teach him how to drive and comfort him when that first girl breaks his heart. There are so many reasons to live. He couldn't leave, he had to stay. He had to tell him that he loved him one more time and feel his arms around his neck.

Melba didn't have to keep her promise that she made to Heath that night . She didn't have to tell Gunner that his Daddy loved him. Heath got to do that - And tonight, he did it face to face and heart to heart. On day 30 Heath laid his eyes on that little boy that loves cars, monster trucks, and his new bicycle. Gunner got to put his arms around his daddy and warm his heart.

Gunner - Never doubt how much your daddy loves you. I hope that one day you will read this and know exactly what kind of man your daddy is. He's the kind of man everyone wants on their team. He's the kind of man that people will call when they need help and he will go in a heartbeat. He's the kind of man that will honor promises. He's the kind of man that people will line up to give blood for. He's the kind of man that will walk through fire to be with you.

'Til Tommorow