Thirty minutes had passed since the alert went out. Tommy had less than eight hours to get his things and get out of the city.
Unfortunately it seemed like it might take him eight hours just to get home.
But Tommy was not consumed with worry and fear at that moment as one would expect him to be. He was not tormented by feelings of dread or despair. His gut was not being torn apart with anxiety.
He was not even worried about telling his parents or girlfriend that he lost another job.
Instead at this moment time he was euphoric. He was happier than he had been in a long time
I can't believe I did that Tommy thought as a feeling of pride welled up inside of him. I can't believe that I actually had the strength to say no to Marshall. After three months being manipulated by him I was able to stand up to him.
I can't believe how good it feels to have spine again. To be in control instead of being controlled. True I lost my job in the process but it still feels good.
I just wish it hadn't taken a deadly hurricane to do it.
If only had he enough guts to do when.... Tommy quickly pushed the thought from his mind not wanting to go down that road again. There is nothing you can do about that. Just focus on surviving this hurricane.
He then slowly made a right turn where he soon discovered the cause for the back up. Just a short three minutes away from the store was elementary school. The crossing guards were holding up traffic to allow the kids to cross the road while groups of other kids walked down both sides of the streets to their homes.
He could also see a line of cars in the school's parking lot.
See Marshall even the schools know waiting is not an option. I just hope their parents don't decide to wait it out. It will be a decision that they will regret.
The students made it across the street and the crossing returned to the other side and signaled for traffic to resume. Tommy drove past the school looking at the long line of cars waiting to into the parking lot.
Mercifully now that he was past the school traffic had picked up. Not by much though. Instead of driving an excruciating five miles an hour he was going about fifteen.
And he doubted he was going to go much faster.
It's going to take forever to get home he thought as his chest began tighten and tingling sensation in his hands. The joyous feelings were now gone as the panic wormed it's way through him now.
Help me heard a young adolescent voice cry out. Someone help me.
No don't go there he told himself. Don't go there.
He found it hard to breath as the voice called out again. Emotion rushed through him as he held onto the wheel so tight his knuckles began to white.
Stop it, stop it he thought. Don't freak out. He grabbed a bottle of water that sat in a cup holder between his seats and took a drink.
Traffic once again stopped and Tommy closed his eyes as he took in a deep breath trying to push the voice out of his mind.
It's going to be okay Tommy he heard another voice say. One that brought assurance and chased away the anxiety that rampaging through him.
"It's going to be okay." He told himself in unison with the voice.
The sound of horn blaring caused his eyes to fly open. He saw the traffic had once again began to move. He hit the accelerator beating the light as it turned red. The car that honked it's ran the red light almost getting it by a car coming out of the side street.
