Requested by: @Brooklyn324985
Taylor felt the warmth of the sun on her face as they cruised through the Indiana countryside. The long, winding road stretched out ahead of them, fields of golden corn on either side. Taylor was smiling, her fingers tapping along to the beat of a country song playing softly from the car's speakers. Travis had one hand on the wheel and the other casually resting on Taylor's knee. They were in the middle of one of their favorite kinds of adventures: a spontaneous road trip. This time, they were heading to a cozy little diner in the heart of Indiana that Travis had insisted had the best pancakes in the Midwest.
"You know," Taylor yawned, stretching out in the passenger seat, "I think I'm gonna take a quick nap before we get to this famous diner of yours."
Travis chuckled, glancing over at her. "Go ahead, babe. You'll need your strength to handle those pancakes."
Taylor laughed softly, then reclined her seat slightly and closed her eyes. She felt safe, the steady hum of the car and the gentle sound of Travis humming along to the radio lulling her into a peaceful sleep.
The soft summer breeze blowing through the open windows mixed with the smell of fresh-cut grass. The world seemed serene and perfect.
---
An hour passed, and the sun began its slow descent in the sky, casting a warm orange glow over the landscape. Travis drove with a content smile on his face, occasionally glancing at Taylor as she napped peacefully beside him. He could see the diner just a few miles ahead on the GPS, their destination close.
But just as he turned a corner onto a less-traveled road, everything changed in an instant.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, a truck barreled into their lane, its headlights swerving wildly. Travis's eyes widened in shock as he saw the vehicle careening toward them. He barely had time to react, his hands yanking the steering wheel to the right, trying to avoid the inevitable.
"TAYLOR!" he shouted, his voice filled with terror, just as the truck slammed into them head-on.
The force of the collision was devastating. The passenger side, where Taylor was, took the brunt of the impact. The sound of screeching metal and shattering glass filled the air as their car flipped over, rolling onto its roof. The world spun violently, and all Travis could hear was Taylor's scream, followed by a deafening silence.
---
When Travis regained consciousness, his head was throbbing, and the world around him was a blur. He felt the blood dripping from a gash on his forehead, and his left wrist throbbed with excruciating pain. His vision was hazy, but as it cleared, the horrific reality set in. The car was upside down, the roof crushed in, and Taylor was still hanging from her seatbelt beside him, unconscious.
"Tay..." Travis rasped, his voice hoarse and panicked. He reached out with his uninjured hand to shake her shoulder gently. "Taylor! Baby, wake up!"
Taylor stirred, a weak groan escaping her lips as her eyes fluttered open. She was disoriented and confused, her body trapped in the mangled wreckage. "Travis..." she whimpered, tears filling her eyes as the pain hit her. "I can't feel my legs. I can't feel them!" Panic gripped her, and she began to sob uncontrollably. "Travis, what's happening?! I can't move my legs!"
Travis's heart shattered at her words, fear clawing at his chest. He tried to move closer, but his wrist screamed in pain, and he was pinned by the crumpled dashboard. "It's going to be okay, Tay. We're going to get help. Just stay with me, alright? I'm right here."
A bystander who had witnessed the crash rushed over, pulling out their phone to call 911. "Hang in there, you two!" the man shouted. "Help is on the way!"
