The accident scene was a cacophony of people, rain and other cars passing by slowly. The shroud of darkness began to lift as the emergency vehicles converged on the scene. The rain died down to a spastic trickle that demanded little attention. All eyes were fixed on the man giving out orders. Smoke billowed from the crunched hood of the van. Crushed glass spilled out onto the road from the smaller car.
Another engine was called to the scene. Hoses were pulled, carried and came alive with pulsating water cooling down the hazy smoke. Two paramedics worked diligently to remove the driver from the van who was still conscious and alert. The driver of the small car didn't make it. Both paramedics worked without comment other than the few words necessary to secure their victim's neck and back before removing him from the van.
It wasn't until the man saw the backboard that he began to laugh. Roy and Brice both looked at him immediately concerned that there might be head trauma.
"Yo, man, don't need that. My back's already broken! I'm a cripple!" the man said between his laughter. His breath revealed the cause of the accident. Not only had the rain impeded the man's ability to drive, but the recent intake of beer seemed to contribute to the mess.
Roy shook his head and suddenly felt a pang of anger mixed with distraught. Brice focused on following procedure despite the man's insistence that a backboard wasn't needed. Roy followed his lead, his mind currently working to hold back another wave of despair. A wave that filled him with images of Joanne and Johnny in a van during this strong spring storm broke through his mask of professionalism. This could have been Johnny and Joanne, he thought. He decided he would call home once they returned to the station. I don't care what they think, he reflected.
The disharmony of the accident continued to reverberate in Roy's heart as he knocked on the back of the ambulance to let the driver know all was secured. He picked up his helmet and looked up at the clearing sky. But he didn't find any peace as the sun peeked through the dark clouds.
* * * * * * *
She laid her head on the bulges of a blanket and her jacket resting her arms within to keep warm. The rain had slowed down and was drizzling when she began to doze dreaming of her soft bed and hot coffee. While she contemplated the danger in totally falling asleep she heard the murmur of a voice—hoarse and grainy, but a voice—Johnny?
She pushed herself up again and reached for him. "Johnny? Come on, can you hear me?"
Johnny's eyes fluttered open and he immediately took in a deep gasp and jerked his head toward Joanne. She smiled at him with tired eyes.
"Oh, Johnny! Talk to me—tell me how you're feeling?"
Johnny blinked again seemingly trying to focus on her. He seemed confused at first but attempted a few words.
"Uh, where . . Jo?"
"Johnny, it's okay. We've been an accident. Can you tell if you're hurt?" she asked hoping he would begin to make sense of their current reality.
"Um . . can't feel my legs . . Roy?" Johnny leaned his back into the mud and didn't seem to notice that glass was cutting his cheek.
"Johnny, I need to you to stay awake . . .Johnny?" Joanne tried to shift again closer to him but cried out as her leg reminded her why moving wasn't such a good idea.
Johnny's head rolled back and forth and he made words that she couldn't understand. But she did understand the tone of bewilderment and fear that lay beneath his murmurs. It was obvious to her that he wasn't aware of what had happened. She sighed and decided she needed to try to do something. Johnny wasn't able to help her and she wasn't sure anyone knew where they were. She attempted to make small wiggles of her one good leg to see if she had any ability to disengage herself from the hold of the floorboard. Nothing but pain and frustration moved for Joanne—through her heart and her mind. "Somebody! Damn it! We need help!" Her shouts continued while Johnny was oblivious to it all.