All is Calm, All is Bright

Like many nights before, there have been no fires, accidents or medical emergencies. We are driving in the engine merely to fill up on fuel. And as I look out on the brightly lit town that has been my home for more than two years now, I feel like I belong. I can hear my fellow firefighters poking fun at one another through the headsets we all wear, as some vaguely familiar pop song plays on the radio. I've felt this sense of camaraderie before, but it was always short-lived and usually in a war zone. Little did I know the kind of brotherhood I would be joining when I filled out the volunteer application a little over a year ago. Despite never wanting to live in this location, I am surprisingly happy to be right here, right now.