Crash

Excerpt:
"Dad?" I say. The officer and paramedics look to see who said that, and their eyes soften up.

"Cassie?" he says. "I told that stupid officer not to let you see me. Sweetie, just please go home." At first, he is angry, but he calms down, seeing the look of surprise on my face.

"Daddy," I whisper. I begin to cry and reach down to touch his arm, the one with scars and scratches running up and down it. I can see him begin to tear up a little as well, and even though he winces with the effort, he reaches up and touches my cheek.

"Cassie," he whispers, his voice cracking a little. "Please go home. When I get discharged and Mom comes to the hospital and picks me up, I'll see you at home."

"Sir," one of the paramedics cuts in. He looks at me with a look of sadness on his face. "We're going to start loading you and taking you to the hospital to get you checked out."

I don't say anything; I'm too busy processing that my father needs to go to the hospital. He looks at me, trying to calm me down, his look trying to say that he's fine. But I know him better than that; I know that he's scared, too.

"Dad. Daddy! Please don't go," I reach out to touch his arm again, but the paramedic has already started to load him on. "Please don't leave," I cry and tears are flowing like waterfalls down my cheeks.