by Jane Harris
First published 1999
The flames that engulf the burning building don't stop the fireman from charging inside to save a trapped infant. But the fire takes its toll, leaving him with serious burns that force him to confront his own vulnerability for the first time. As he lies in his hospital bed, bandaged and healing, he watches his son struggle to process what happened to his father. The injury changes everything between them, creating an unexpected intimacy born from crisis. The fireman must rebuild more than just his damaged skin. He must examine what it means to risk everything for strangers while his own family watches from the sidelines. His son's reaction to seeing his father wounded opens difficult questions about courage, duty, and the price of heroism. Through their shared ordeal, both father and son discover new truths about sacrifice and what it really means to be strong.
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, contemporary, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: emotional-journey, family-drama
Paperback · John Hansard Gallery