Strangers When We Meet

Sarah quickly walked down the dark street, the wind cold against her tearstained cheeks. The hospital was coming into view as her mind tumbled over what had happened.

Her father was gone. Karen was gone. Toby was close to following them. That damn driver…

She pushed through the doors and looked around for the elevator. As she hit the number five she was thinking of everything she would do to the drunk who killed her family. Each cruel and unusual punishment more painful than the one before it. As the elevator let out a week ding she got out and shuffled down the hallway to Toby's room.

She stood at the door, gazing at her baby brother sleeping in the hospital bed. Her eyes were teary as she looked at the tubes running over and into him. It didn't seem fair to her, looking at him like this, that the one who caused it walked away with a headache. She'd lost everything she'd ever loved, and he lost his damn car.

"Excuse me," said a voice from behind. Sarah turned around to see a doctor standing before her.

"Yes?" she asked.

"I'm sorry, but visiting hours are just about over."

"But I only just got here, can't I-"

"I'm sorry ma'am but I have to ask you to leave." He looked sincere as he said it, but Sarah had learned quickly that they can hide their emotions. She didn't believe them anymore. Not since one said Toby would be just fine. When another said he was getting better.

The doctor gave a weak smile, and Sarah saw him tapping his pen impatiently on his clipboard.

"Alright," she said with a last sad look at Toby. "I'm going."

Sarah entered a small park on her way to the parking garage. It was less crowded in that one than the hospitals and she preferred it, even if she did have to pay.

The lamps following the thin pavement were slowly dying, a few flickering pathetically as they desperately tried to help guide Sarah through the dark. She saw a bench come into view as she turned a corner, and noticed that someone was sprawled across it in a curious way. She wasn't sure sleeping out in the open, especially at this time of night, was a very smart thing to do.

She slowly tiptoed over, not wanting to startle the person. When she was close enough to see their face, she saw it was a very pale, thin man. Her brow furrowed in confusion as she wondered if it was any of her business to wake him up. As a police siren sounded in the distance, she decided to take it as a sign that she should.

"Hey," she whispered softly, sitting on the end of the bench. "Hey mister, wake up." She shook him gently, looking for any clue that he was awakening. "You shouldn't be out here this late…" She shook him harder, and he let out a soft moan.

Sarah's eyes widened and she quickly pulled her hand back. Her eyes traveled over his body. She hadn't noticed before, but his clothes were ripped in a few places, and the small, visible part of skin on his arm was beginning to bruise, the four lines obviously left by a hard grip.

She searched his pockets, hoping now that he wouldn't wake up and see her over him like this. She couldn't find anything. No money, no wallet, nothing. With absolutely nothing on him, and his condition, her mind raced to the conclusion that he'd been mugged.

"Oh lord…" she breathed, unsure of what to do. Should she call the police? In her state of panic she foolishly thought that they would automatically accuse her, and shoved the idea from her mind. She stood to get her car, set on taking him home to see that he was alright.

She stopped after one step and looked back at him. I shouldn't leave him alone like this…

She stooped in front of the bench and wrapped one of his arms around her neck. She used her other hand to lightly hit his face, being careful not to hurt him, but trying to wake him up. She was startled by how cold he felt. He needed to get inside as soon as possible.

"Can you hear me?" she asked as she stood, groaning under his weight. Her knees were weak as she tried to take a few steps toward the parks entrance. "Can you say your name?" He mumbled something incoherent and she leaned her ear closer to his mouth. "Say again?"

"…Mi…el…"

"Mi-el? Mei-el? Mmm-michael? Michael? You name's Michael?" His head rolled and she took it as an attempt to nod. "Ok Michael, you have to help me, okay? I can't get you to my car on my own."

She took a couple of shaky steps, and eventually Michael started to stumble along with her. After a block Sarah was exhausted as she reached the parking garage. She was thankful she had parked on the bottom level, and gently she eased him into the back seat, helping him lay down and arranged a few jackets for a pillow.

She drove as fast as she could, trying to be careful. She winced every time the car bounced and he let out a weak groan. "Sorry…" she mumbled.

She let out a sigh of relief as she finally reached home. She pulled into the garage, and quickly jumped out of the car to open the door to the house. Running inside, she was greeted only by the empty house. No Karen or Daddy to help with this stranger in need. She quickly grabbed pillows from the closet, along with a few blankets, and threw them together on the couch.

Dashing back outside, she opened the door and reached for his right arm.

"Michael," she said loudly, pulling him into a seated position. "Come on, I need you to get your legs out of the car." While she said it, she herself grabbed a handful of his pants and tugged his leg out. She was trying to get him thinking before she really needed his help. Working on the other one, one arm wrapped around his upper body, she continued to talk to him.

"Okay, I've almost got you out, but you have to stand up for me." Both his feet were on the concrete, and she got her other arm around him, pulling him out all the way and trying to balance him. Again she noticed how incredibly cold he was, and hurriedly walked him inside.

She set him gently on the couch and covered him with a few blankets. He blinked slowly as his eyes opened, rolling twice before they steadied themselves on her.

"Hey," she whispered, left hand brushing aside some of his wild black hair. "You gave me quite a scare. Are you going to be okay?" He hummed his response before passing out once more.

Sarah leaned back against the couch, giving out a long, tired sigh. She closed her eyes and rested her head on the front of the headrest. If he needed anything, she'd be right there.

Hello! Taylor and I wrote this together :) she gave the ideas and I wrote them down. This is her Christmas present, cuz it prolly wont be done till then and cuz its long and Im slow...anyway...lol please review!

ps-Tay dont worry I'll get you a better one too ;) gimmie ideas now and i'll start savin lol limit $100 heh heh