Slade

Car Crash

Slade

"Archer, car crash on highway eighty five. Little girl around three and her parents... but her parents arent doing so good" Donald says over the walkie talkie.

I pull out of my parking spot and speed to the highway with my sirens on.

The roads are blocked off and I immediately get out of my car, running to the scene where the ambulances are, the smoke is, and the two cars that t-boned into each other.

I turn to my left and see the man and woman on the ground struggling for their life.

Then the little girl... looking around in confusion while she cries. "Hey!" I jog to her and she turns to me in fear. "I'm not gonna hurt you! I promise!"

She runs up to me and hugs my leg, crying.

I pick her up and see the paramedics looking at me with that look.

Her parents are dying...

"What's going on?!" the little girl asks.

I fake smile. "Nothing, love. What's your name? I'm Slade!"

"Ruth!" she chirps.

I wipe her tears and smile. "Beautiful smile, Ruth! What's your favorite animal?" I try to distract.

She giggles. "Kitties!!"

"I like cats too!" I chuckle and she laughs. "Tell me Ruth, what do you wanna be when you grow up?"

"A vet!" she smiles.

"Never give up on that dream, kiddo! It'll come true one day! You just have to keep believing!" I encourage and she smiles.

"Slade..." one of the paramedics says on my walkie talkie. "Both flatlined"

I look down and sigh. "You're gonna do good in life, Ruth. Don't let anything stop you from doing what you love"

"Thank you" she hugs me.

I take a deep breath and hug her tightly.

**

"Because I don't know if I love you anymore" she says.

I try to form words ... then she shuts the door in my face.

No...

No...

I can't lose my best friend... I can't.

I never mean to hurt her! I'm just showing her the real word and what danger this baby is in!

My fucking heart broke into a trillion pieces when she said she didn't love me anymore.

Fuck it.

Time will tell.

I'm not gonna deal with this shit and be in my self pity anymore.

I'm Slade Archer.

I'm not suppose to care...

"Slade" dad walks in and I look at him. "Where's Beth? We haven't seen her these past two days"