“I became a firefighter because of Billie. Because I couldn’t save her. So I save others to make up for being that selfish teen who ran away and didn’t even think of her until first responders were already there.” “You. Were. Sixteen,” he says again. “My parents blamed me. Have always blamed me. Their souls died with Billie. They used to be fun, but after losing her, they became shells. Hateful.
