Flash

It was a warm Wednesday night in June in the outskirts of Albuquerque, as a lone car was riding along the two-lane highway. Inside that car were two loving parents, and their son sitting in his booster seat in the back with his face glued to a comic, who was only known as The Kid.

He was rarely referred to by his real name. He'd been trying to create his own superhero moniker, given that he constantly indulges himself in comics and fantasizes about becoming just like the heroes one day. Referring to himself as "The Kid", his parents supported his endeavors and his mother even made a cape for him, which he has worn every day since he'd received it a week ago.

He'd been wanting to update his name, maybe add something after "Kid"...

Cosmic...his mind wandered as he read his comics, snuggled in his booster seat.

The Kid Cosmic? No, remove the "the"...

Kid Cosmic. It rolls off the tongue.

Kid eagerly looked up from his book to tell his parents about his new name, but they were quietly whispering about something.

Was this something they didn't want him to know?

He could only barely make out what words they were saying...

Teachers...complaints...Kid's behavior...therapist...expensive...

...Tinted glasses...headphones?...Self-conscious...made fun of...

Were they...arguing about him?

They'd done so well with supporting him...were they now starting to get fed up with it?

These thoughts circle the 6-year-old's mind, as he wonders if he really is the nuisance that his teachers make him out to be.

The whispers started to get louder, and Kid tried hard to divert his focus back to his comic.

But something else entered his attention.

In the distance was a very faint light from another vehicle about to pass them by on the opposite lane. They were a good bit far away from them, but the light was extremely bright. Or maybe it was just his sensory disorder playing up. Maybe he does need an extra tint on these special glasses...

Then the feelings of panic started.

He felt something wasn't right.

The light...his parents having one of their rare arguments...the lonely road late at night...it felt like a recipe for disaster.

The truck was getting closer... but the lights started moving away from their own lane.

That's when The Kid realized he and his parents were in trouble. Very big trouble.

His mother shouted and signaled at her husband to focus on the road. He looked to see that a semi was swerving into their lane, and it happened so quickly that he had barely prepared to swerve away.

Kid's stomach dropped as the worst was about to come true. He threw down the book, quickly leaned over, and yelled "MOM! DAD! NOOOO!"

...but it was far too late.

The former quiet ambiance of being inside the car was interrupted when the semi collided, and it would be the last split second he saw his parents. There was a flash of light...a splatter of blood...a sharp pain near his stomach...and then there was darkness.

---

Kid quickly shot up from his slumber in a cold sweat, screaming and repeating "NOOOO!". He grips his blanket tightly and wraps it around him, as tears quickly run down his cheeks. He tries to catch his breath as he repeatedly mutters "No, no, no, no, no...".