Later, we would find out that Jeff had survived, although a large scar would remain permanently on the back of his head. But emergency services moved slowly in Mexico, and the firefighters debated with the paramedics about how best to prop the ladder against the unfinished two-story building. The thick black wires swayed overhead in the desert breeze; the shock had traveled through Jeff's head, down into the circular saw he still held, and all along an extension cord. The saw and the charred cord were useless now. With the ladder secured, a firefighter began to climb. The paramedics watched.
Bryan Vale is a writer based in the San Francisco Bay Area. His work has appeared in several journals, including Quibble, Paddler Press, and Spirits. bryanvalewriter.com Instagram and Twitter: @bryanvalewriter