A few days later Steve was driving down main street car radio on listening to the weather forecast. There supposed to be a storm, and Steve was hoping to get home before it started. There seemed to be a traffic jam - everybody was trying to get home before the storm. Steve was honking his horn in frustration, which of course didn't help. Some guy from the car ahead stuck his head out of the window and showed Steve a middle finger to which Steve cursed loudly.
There was loud thunder. All o f the sudden it got really dark and the lightning flashed through the darkness. Great Steve punched his fist on the steering wheel. It started pouring with hail bumping against the car windows. Finally the cars started moving slowly, and then Steve was able to go full speed. The cars in front o f him were speeding too. It was really hard to see with the water and hail on the windshield and the road was slippery.
Suddenly, Steve saw through the water a truck which was going in the opposite direction on another lane and merged into Steve's lane a few cars ahead of Steve. Steve panicked - he's going to crash he thought. Right then there was a loud bang as the truck plowed into one of the cars. The car swiveled from the road on to the curb and was turned to the side. The windows broke all the shards falling inside the car. It was pouring. The truck appeared to be not hurt. The truck driver wheeled the truck to the right lane and drove away. Steve couldn't believe it. He was torn it was really pouring and he was risking getting into a car accident himself, but he couldn't just leave.
There was no sight of the driver as the car was now upside down on the curb. The driver must be trapped inside Steve thought. Steve cursed but got out of the car. He ran towards the overturned car stepping into dirt and feeling his wet hair cling to his cheeks. Some other driver also got out of the car and was running behind Steve. It was pitch dark and only the headlights from Steve's car provided some sort of faded light.
Steve got to the car. The window was broken, and Steve stuck his head inside. He could hardly see. The driver was trapped inside, he was on his side unconscious, the seatbelt still on, glass everywhere. His head was bleeding and there was blood on his hands and his temples. The other guy caught up with Steve. Together they tried to open the car door, but it was stuck. They needed to break the rest of the window and drag the driver out the car. Steve quickly took off his shirt and wrapped it around his hand then punched the window glass.
The lightning stroke, and for a moment the driver's face was illuminated. Steve froze - it was Evie's dad. Recovering from his shock Steve reached into the car and unbuckled the seatbelt, then started to drag Evie's dad out through the window. The glass was hurting him in the process but there was nothing Steve could do about that.
Finally he was able to pull Evie's dad out. He was bleeding all over, and Steve's hand was bleeding too in spite of him wrapping it in the shirt.
"We got to get him to the hospital it's faster than waiting for the ambulance," the other guy said to Steve. Steve nodded while wiping the blood off his arm – "I'll get him to the hospital right away."
"You need any help?" The other guy asked.
"Nah, I'm gonna be all right," Steve replied confidently, wiping off drops of rain and sweat of his face.
"All right then, I'm going to get going." the other guy said, and Steve nodded again. He carried Mr. Reynolds to his car and carefully put him in the back, then got in to the driver's seat. Thank god there was no traffic jam by then.
The storm was going on full force. It got even darker, and thunder was roared in the air. The car wheels squeaked loudly as Steve made a left turn, and the car wobbled. "Shit," Steve cursed, "I may get into an accident myself."
Finally in about fifteen minutes they were at the hospital. Evie's dad was slightly on the heavy side, and it was difficult for Steve to carry him, but he managed to get him inside. Suddenly Evie's dad opened his eyes. He looked at Steve helplessly and moaned.
"Easy, easy, it's ok we are at the hospital now." Steve tried to say soothingly as he proceeded carrying Mr. Reynolds into ER.
"The other driver…" Mr. Reynolds said weakly," the bastard drove off." It was more of a statement than a question.
"Yeah," Steve confirmed, "he drove off, but you shouldn't be talking right now. Just hold on you'll get help soon."
In the ER Steve quickly explained what had happened, and the nurse placed Mr. Reynolds on to the gurney and wheeled him away. Steve was drenched and he noticed that people were looking at him funny, then he realized it was because he was not wearing a shirt. He put his drenched and bloody t-shirt back on. Now he was contemplating if he should call Evie right away or would it be better to hear from the doctor first. This was no easy task but Steve decided to call Evie right away. He found a payphone and dialed the number.
"Oh my God," Evie got hysterical, "and the other driver just drove away? Bastard. Thank God you were there Steve, is he still unconscious?" she asked through sobs. "No he gained consciousness just as I brought him into ER." Steve said, feeling really bad for Evie.
"Thank you so much Steve." She almost whispered, "you could've just drove away but you didn't." She trailed off sobbing some more.
"Hey," he said, "it's going to be alright."
"We don't know that." She started bawling.
"I love you baby." Steve said gently.
"I love you too Steve." Evie whispered.
In about twenty minutes Evie and Mrs. Reynolds were at the hospital. They were sitting next to Steve feeling anxious.
"Thank you very much Steve," Mrs. Reynolds said wiping a tear, "how did you know it was him?"
"I didn't." Steve replied simply.
"I t was so…," she sighed, "nice of you. God knows what would happen if you drove away." At those words Evie hid her face on Steve's shoulder and started sobbing loudly.
"Easy," Steve rubbed her back, "it's going to be alright."
Finally in about forty minutes the doctor called their name. They got up from their seats and almost ran towards the doctor.
"How is he? Is he going to be alright?" Mrs. Reynolds asked apprehensively. The doctor cleared his throat, - "he suffered a concussion and severe head injury."
"But he is going to be alright isn't he?" Evie almost whispered.
"We put stitches in his head to close up the wound. He will recover but..." he paused looking for the right words, "he maybe a little different."
"What do you mean?" Mrs. Reynolds asked confused.
"Well, he may have some memory problems and overall thinking process may not be as clear as before."
"Do you mean to say that he is going to be like retarded?" Evie choked up.
"Well, I wouldn't quite put it that way, but there may be some problems with memory and thought process. For example he may start thinking about something then jump to another thought and forget about the first one. If he's lucky the effects will be mild but we just can't tell for sure." Mrs. Reynolds covered her mouth with her hands to prevent from crying out loud.
"Can we see him?" Evie asked.
"Sure," the doctor replied, "room 205. Just make sure he doesn't talk too much." Evie and Mrs. Reynolds started walking towards the hallway while Steve stayed where he was.
"C'mon," Evie turned around.
"Um," Steve hesitated, "I don't think it's a good idea. I'll wait for you here ok?" "Ok," Evie nodded, and they left. Steve went back to his plastic chair. He sat down, sinking deep into the seat, and hung his head. In about fifteen minutes Mrs. Reynolds and Evie were back in the waiting room.
"He wants to see you." Evie said to Steve, "We explained to him what happened and how you saved him, and he wants to talk to you." Great Steve thought, but got up and started walking towards room 205.
"Hi Steven," Mr. Reynolds propped himself on his elbows.
"Hello Mr. Reynolds," Steve said in a low voice. He felt more than uneasy after the last encounter with Mr. Reynolds.
"I want to thank you son for what you did. You could've just left especially when you realized it was me, and how I treated you the last time." Steve looked down –"Anybody would've done the same thing."
"Oh you don't say. That truck driver sure as hell didn't do the same thing. I…" he paused, then continued, "I owe you an apology. You are a good kid after all, I've been unfair to you. And you know what?" Steve looked at him expectantly, "you may marry Evie. She'll be in good hands with you." Steve couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"Thank you Mr. Reynolds," he said when he got his ability to speak back.
"Don't mention it son," Mr. Reynolds smiled weakly, "but…" he put his hand out, "make sure you get a good job, and treat Evie right."
"That I will do," Steve said looking Mr. Reynolds right in the eyes.
"Ok then," Mr. Reynolds kind of chuckled, "now get out of here I'm sure you got better things to do than talking to an old man like, me."
Steve went back to the waiting room quite stunned.
"What is it?" Evie asked her face turning pale.
"He said it's ok." Steve said still shocked then he hugged Evie and spun her around.
"What are you talking about?" she asked when he put her down.
"He said I can marry you. He gives his permission." Evie was overwhelmed with everything that had happened. She collapsed into a chair, covered her face with her palms and started crying her shoulders shaking with sobs.
"C'mon honey," Mrs. Reynolds said "let's get going." Steve stretched his arm for Evie to grab, she did, and he pulled her up. She wiped her eyes and smiled tiredly at Steve. "Let's get out of here."
"You don't have to say that twice." Steve said.
