Fire tower

…And in a fire tower deep in the Canadian bush, a voice over the radio sounds like the only lifeline a person has left.…

…The words, fire tower, barely visible under layers of moss. Emily didn't slow as we stepped off the dirt road, ducking under a low-hanging branch onto the narrow path leading into the woods. Here, the trees felt closer together, their tops so thick they shut out most of the remaining daylight. I followed closely behind her, my eyes switching between the pat…

…The truck sat there a moment longer before moving ahead. It didn't go far, just enough to pull over onto the side of the road. The men didn't get out, but they didn't leave either. We should hurry, I said. Emily nodded. Neither of us turned back again. The fire tower was still ahead, but it seemed a lot farther away now. The trailhead was marked by a broken…