The accident

APOV

I lay on my bed and tried to sleep. My phone started ringing on my dresser.

I so hoped it was Stacia, our last visit needed some talking about.

But, it wasn't her ringtone…

I rolled over with a groan and grabbed my phone. I squinted at the screen when it lit up.

I had a hard time reading the small print; it was a city number so I answered.

"Hello?"

"Yes, is this Avi Kaplan?"

"This is he" the voice on the other end was a women's.

""Oh, ok well I have called to inform you of an accident this evening"

I nodded while she talked. I kept rubbing my eyes as well. "Who is it that had you call me?"

She paused after my question then answered promptly, "a young lady by the name of, Tia Smith"

I sat up in my bed, terrified. "is she ok?"

"Yes but the passenger got the blunt end of it"

"Tell her I'll be there soon" I hung up and sprang out of my bed.

I scrambled about my room for jeans. My shirt was a sweater looking thing so I pulled it on and left.

The hospital wasn't far but it still seemed like forever. I kept trying of who her passenger was.

I would be amazingly surprised if they were alive. My car wasn't fast by any stretch of the imagination but it could speed.

The streets seemed wet so it made complete sense the she got in a wreck. I pulled into the parking lot and found the closest space I could; which wasn't that difficult.

I got out and pretty ran in the front door.

"I'm here to see Tia Smith" I blurted out at the desk. They took almost five minutes to print and give me a visitor's pass.

The automated door couldn't open quickly enough; while it opened I checked for a room number on my pass. Room 234…ok…

I pass a couple of rooms with mothers, kids, dads, and grandparents in them; who knew a Friday was a popular day to get hurt?

Tia was lying on her back with her hands on her stomach. She spotted me and attempted to smile.

I smiled back and went to her side. "You ok?" I asked. She frowned.

I pushed my eyebrows together. "What?" she had a tear fall down her cheek but she wiped it away.

"Stacia was in the car with me" I finally understood…"Stacia was in the passenger seat?" I asked.

"Yes, she and I went to claw down the strip and…"

"And?!" I said so nervous.

She gave me this look, the look she had given me years earlier when we found out she was pregnant.

"Did she?" I asked, my eyes welled up.

"No…she is in the psych ward" Tia said looking away from me.

"Psych ward?" I repeated.

"Yeah" she reassured me. I shook my head, "Why?"

Tia was almost crying, "Go see her".

Next thing I know I'm at the window, watching her in her room. Just seeing her this way makes me want to cry; the bruises, the cuts, and bandages. I had to look away, even this kills me.

My eyes well up again; I could almost feel her pain. Somehow, some way…I felt this was my fault.

If I didn't turn her down earlier maybe she would have been with me still. This wouldn't have happened to her…

I felt a tap on my shoulder, "You Avi?" a bigger man said.

He looked like a marine. "Yes sir, why?" I asked.

"I'm Stacia's father, Mr. Chatelier" I smiled to him comfortingly.

"It's so nice to finally meet you, is she ok?" I asked.

His face dropped and looked at me. "She has a case of amnesia"

"Excuse me?"

"Amnesia, a condition that causes you to forget things" he explained.

My smile slowly turned into a frown, "Things? What things?"

His expression went to stone, "everything…"