He raced across that same street, again.
Only this time with more urgency than ever before.
Mr. Langston was waiting for him at the door.
There was an ambulance, and a fire engine in the street.
“What happened?” Seth heard himself ask.
“Nothing, yet” was the guarded answer.
Bookish man told him that Annie’s ex had showed up
At the bookstore this morning.
“He was demanding to see Sarah, and threatening Annie”
The terror in his voice transferred instantly to Seth.
“Where is Annie now?” Seth was terrified.
“He’s holding her hostage, upstairs”
Nothing in his life had prepared Seth for this scenario.
He hardly knew Annie and his worst fear was that he never would.
“Who is Sarah?” he asked bookish man.
“She is their daughter. She is four.”
Seth rushed in, only to be stopped by a policeman.
A crisis worker is attempting to talk to Russ, Annie’s ex husband.
“Russ, we just want to help you. Let Annie go so we can talk.”
No answer. Seth could hear his heart beat.
A policewoman is holding a small child. A little girl with reddish hair.
And her mommy’s sparkling blue eyes. She is looking at him.
He is keenly aware that, before this is all over, she may be an orphan.
He has never felt so helpless in his whole life.
The crisis worker pleads again: “let her go, man, let’s talk”
Seth hears a sickening thud, oh God, is Annie all right?
He cannot breathe. His eyes are watering. Why is this happening?
Annie staggers down the stairs and collapses in a firefighter’s arms.
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