Free After the Fire by Clare Revell Page B

arms.
    No!
    “Jason, hurry that ambulance.” She laid him flat on the ground, feeling for a pulse. There wasn’t one. She started CPR. One, two, three, four, five, breathe. One, two, three, four, five, breathe .
    “Come on, Peter.”
    One, two, three, four, five, breathe. One, two, three, four, five, breathe.
    The small figure coughed and gasped. Relief flooded her. “Well done, sweetheart.” She turned him onto his side and offered the inhaler again. “Try to take a deep breath for me.” She could dimly hear someone screaming and figured it was Peter’s mother again.
    Jason’s hand dropped on her shoulder. “It’s coming, should be here any minute.”
    “All right, good.” She offered the inhaler again. “And again, Peter.”
    Blue lights and sirens filled the air. Two paramedics leapt out of the ambulance.
    “He crashed, but I got him back with CPR. He’s had three puffs of the inhaler.” She sat back on her heels, as they gave Peter a nebulizer and put him on a stretcher.
    Peter’s mother had tears pouring down her face. “Thank you so much.”
    “You’re welcome.” Freddie watched the ambulance leave, only then realizing a small crowd had gathered to watch. They gradually dissipated.
    “Are you all right?” Jason’s voice was gentle, his gaze full of concern as he hunkered down next to her. His hand was warm against her cold one.
    “I’m fine.”
    “No, you’re not fine. Come here.” Jason wrapped his arms around her, hugging her tightly.
    Freddie clung to him, taking the comfort he offered. She was only too aware of how close a call that had been.
    After a moment, Jason pulled back and looked at her. “Come sit back down, and I’ll buy you a coffee.”
    “All right.”
    He helped her to her feet and gently took hold of her arm, leading her back to the bench. “Sit there and don’t move.”
    Freddie sat down, her body numb and cold. As Jason moved away, her hands began to shake. She shoved them into her pockets and closed her eyes. It could have been her lying there. Would anyone else have known what to do?
    “Here.” Jason sat beside her. A cup rested against her lips and she took a few sips before taking it in her shaking hands. A few drops of the hot liquid spilled onto her skin. His hands covered hers, steadying the cup.
    “Take it easy. You were amazing.”
    “I don’t know about that.”
    “You saved that kid’s life. I’d say that’s pretty amazing.”
    “I was just in the right place at the right time.” She took a long drink.
    “It’s more than that, Freddie. You knew what it was, how to treat it. Even knew CPR, which is more than I do. To my shame, CPR is never something I learnt.” He looked at her. “I keep meaning to, just never got around to it.”
    Freddie looked up, steam from the coffee misting up her glasses. “I recognized the asthma because I live with it.”
    “I know. That’s why I dealt with the mother. I know that sense of helplessness—watching someone you love trying to breathe and not being able to do anything to help them.” His voice trembled, and he swallowed hard. “I only ever saw you having small attacks, but they were scary enough.”
    Freddie nodded. “This was a pretty bad one. We caught it in time and got him the help he needed.”
    “You don’t let it stop you though.”
    She shrugged. “It’s not something I let matter. I mean, yes it’s something I live with every minute of every day, but it doesn’t define me or control me.” She paused and looked at him. “The thing is—being labeled asthmatic can be as debilitating as being labeled autistic or being stuck in a wheelchair. People see the inhaler and not you.”
    “Just for the record, I never saw the inhaler. I saw you. But, it does matter, hon. I mean, what if you have a massive attack like that? I only ever saw the small ones before.”
    “Then I guess you know what to do now.” She looked at him. “Hon?”
    “Old habits. You mind?”
    Freddie looked away and