Short Stories

A Christmas Disaster

"I know. Yes, I'm going to be safe. Yes, darling, I love you too." I hung up the phone, picking up my purse.

"Hey, Daniel, you okay here? I mean, I could stay a little if you want me to." I asked Daniel, my coworker. He sat in his chair rubbing his eyes. His short brown ponytail was disheveled after the long day calming uptight clients. And me.

"Martha. It's Christmas Eve. You should be with your family." He answered tiredly but firmly. I sighed.

"It's just not fair for you, you..." I started to complain, but he cut me off.

"I don't have anyone, Martha. I don't have a wife, or even a girlfriend, and my parents live in the US. Go home." I huffed before leaving, still feeling it isn't right that Daniel is there all alone while I go have fun with my family. My family...

"Oh Christ!" I yelled, running up to my small car. I hopped in. I had forgotten to get our Christmas dinner. How did Lance not tell me about that! I pulled out of the parking lot at Proffitt Insurance Agency. My grandfather, Abe Proffitt, started the agency. I decided to take up the business after my father.

I turned onto the highway towards the shop. My thoughts were occupied. I know it was my fault. I wasn't watching for ice spots.

As I turned, my tires skidded on the ice. I yelped as my car spun out of control, and I was thrown against the seat belt. I continued to spin, dizziness overcoming me. I saw the headlights of a car, but I barely had time to shout out in fear before we collided, and my head flew forward and hit the steeping wheel a second before the air bag softened the blow. Pain exploded behind my eyes and my vision turned black.

My hearing slowly faded back, but when I tried to open my eyes, they refused to move. Everything refused to move. My head throbbed painfully. I heard sirens wailing and tires screeching. I heard people yelling, but I couldn't make out what they were saying. I felt so tired... So tired...

Then Lance's voice broke through the growing mist. I tried to throw myself in his arms. For him to take away the pain, but my body wouldn't obey me. Actually, I felt like I didn't have a body.

I heard the tears in his voice. "Martha? Oh, God, please don't be dead. Martha!" I faintly felt my body being lifted up, but Lance's voice remained. "Please, officer, is she okay?" A new voice entered at this point. God, it was terrible just hearing the voices. I had never realized before how much I relied on sight.

"Sir, you need to ask the medic. I don't know, but I hope your wife will be alright." Footsteps followed and I felt a hand envelope mine.

"Come on darling. Hold on..." His voice started to fade. Panic coursed through me. He couldn't leave! He couldn't.. Thought ceased as the rocking of the car I was in lulled me to sleep.

I later woke up. Can I call it that? Sounds and pain flooded me all at once. "Daddy, will Mommy be okay?" I heard Cindy ask. Cindy, oh poor girl. She sounded so scared. I longed to comfort her.

"Yes, baby, she will be." Lance answered, but he sounded far from certain. I tried to yell that I was okay to them, but was I?

"Mr. Gilles?" Another man asked. God, I couldn't keep the voices strait. "Your wife is in a coma. It seems the air bags were faulty and did not inflate in time to stop her head from hitting the steering wheel. She has experienced severe trauma to the frontal lobe of the brain. We think she will recover, in time, but...

"But you don't know for certain?" Lance asked. I heard Cindy crying. The medical personnel sighed.

"Yes. Mr. Gilles, I sincerely hope she pulls through. I'm sorry, but I don't know anything more than that." He left just as quickly as he had arrived. Again, Lance's hand enveloped mine.