Every Picture Tells a Story

It had been eight months since the first spark of the Australian bushfires had been lit, cutting a relentless path through millions of hectares of land. Seven days since firefighter Jack Sweeney had been able to return to his family home on the south coast of New South Wales to rest his weary bones. Exactly two hours, eight minutes, and sixteen seconds since he’d met a man named Hunter.
Hunter Everett, all-around good guy and photojournalist for an online Eco magazine, had been travelling throughout Australia to document the devastation of the country’s most unprecedented fires in living memory. Dozens of brave, beautiful souls lost. Homes, hearts, and livelihoods razed to the ground. A billion animals wiped out. And one naughty dog by the name of Buddy, who would not only become Hunter’s friend, but change his destiny for good.

This story was my contribution to the When the Smoke Clears anthology.