She clutched the bell in her tiny hand, the not-so-distant memory of the Polar Express dancing behind her twinkling eyes. It was late, but not too late. Her eyes felt heavier with every curve of the freeway. They were on hour one of the four hour drive. She shrugged her seat belt to the side and prepared to doze off in the back seat.
When she opened her eyes, she noticed she was on her side. Her neck was stiff, and she couldn't lift her left arm. Tiny rocks and twigs were cutting into her right arm. She could still feel the cold medal in her hand. Tears came to her eyes as she finally focused on the burning car a few yards in front of her. It was turned on its side, and she realized what happened.
The roads were covered in black ice this time of year. They went off the road.
A new panic came when she remembered she wasn't alone in the car. She tried to yell his name, but her throat was thick with blood. She sputtered and coughed the blood from her mouth.
She looked to the left of the car, then to the right, and saw him. He was still unconscious, but breathing. Snow started falling, and she knew she was in trouble. The car was warm, she had taken her coat off. He still had his on, and she felt guilty for wishing he hadn't.
The fire that had once engulfed the car was slowly turning into a small flame. Our only light source was dying, taking any hope of warmth with it.
She heard someone shouting in the distance and felt hope. She still couldn't speak, so she did the next best thing.
She used all the strength she could muster, and flopped onto her back. She choked in pain, blood sputtering onto her face. She tried lifting her right arm, but her wrist only made it two inches off the ground before hitting the ground again. The bell gave a faint jingle, but it wasn't enough.
She tried twisting her wrist. It was painful, but she could do it. She gripped the thin leather strap of the bell and flipped her wrist back and forth. Groaning in pain, she flipped her wrist faster, making the bell louder.
The shouting grew closer, and she could see flashlights coming towards them. She closed her eyes as the light flashed passed her. The strangers already had 911 on the line, it sounded like the paramedics were already on their way. She let out a few more tears before she felt the presence of someone standing over her.
