“Please, don’t make this harder than it already is. Bye, Josh.” I end the call and lay the phone on the counter, cover my face with my hands and sob. I feel like my life is over, but I know even though this is the hardest thing I’ve ever done, I did the right thing.
My head is killing me by the time I get to the bar. I feel numb, in a fog. “Girl, you look worse than I’ve ever seen you and that’s saying a lot. Are you okay, honey?” Tina comes behind the bar, putting her hand on my shoulder.
“No. But I will be. It just may take me the rest of my life.”
“Oh, honey.” I turn, and she hugs me. I lay my head on her shoulder and try to keep the tears away. It doesn’t help. “You know I’m always here for you. You can tell me anything and you know I won’t say a word.” I nod against her shoulder and sniff then pull back and try to smile.
We are slammed all night, and I feel like I could pass out by the time we are cleaning up. A storm has been raging outside all night. Talk of flooding has been spreading, the thunder so loud at times you could hear it over the music. “You gonna be okay getting home, Em?” Randy calls over as I finish wiping down the counter. I look up and smile, nodding.
When I walk out the backdoor, the rain pelts me, hard. I can barely see my car. By the time I reach it, I’m drenched. I get in, the door squeaking in protest as I shut it. I start it and it sputters, shakes and dies. “Great!” I try again and it finally starts. I buckle my seatbelt and hear my phone ring in my purse. Josh. He’s the only one that has my number, of course. I fumble finding it and finally get it to my ear.
“Emma. It’s horrible outside. Let me come get you. Please?” He sounds out of breath and sad.
“I’m fine, Josh. I can get home but thank you.”
“You’re so stubborn. Let me help you. Let me at least do that much.” Now he sounds frustrated, and I feel bad.
“Look. It’s just rain. I’ll call you when I get home, okay?” I end the call, dropping the phone back in my purse and look over my shoulder as I pull out of the parking space. I turn and drive out of the lot, stopping to look both ways. On the way home all I can think about is him, squinting as the wipers brush the heavy amount of rain across the windshield. Why can’t things be different? Why can’t things ever go right for me? I finally find the perfect man, one that loves me and wants to be with me and that can’t even go right. I just want a happy life. Is that so much to ask for? Hope for? I take a deep breath, my heart racing from the invisibility and the water that’s standing on the road as I drive slowly through it.
I’m now a few blocks from my apartment and start to breathe a little easier. I can’t wait to take a shower, get warm in my sweats and get in my bed. There’s a ton of water standing on the road as I turn onto the street before mine and I look around seeing there’s no way around it. Shit. I press on the accelerator hoping I can give it enough gas to get through it but as I start to plow through my car stalls. “Great!” I whisper as I hit the steering wheel. I try to start the car several times. Nothing. I look down and dig for my phone again. Maybe Randy can come get me outta this. He doesn’t live that far.
I smile when I find it and hold it up. The phone goes flying and my eyes widen in confusion when my car starts turning. My body is jolted as I look around. My head is snapped back against the head rest, I gasp when I’m bolted against the door. Darkness.
“Miss. Can you hear me?”
“Josh.”
“We’re going to lift you. Don’t move. Can you hear me?”
“Mom.”
“Okay, guys. Be careful. Can you get her things in there?”
The voices fade.
“What?” My head is killing me. I can’t move my arm. What happened? I want Mom. Josh. I don’t want to be alone. My eyes open then close quickly, feeling swollen, my head hurts, my leg. Rain. The car won’t start. Where am I? The sounds of machines float around me. I feel a hand on my arm and try to turn my head but a groan comes out of my mouth instead.
“Don’t move, sweetie. Just be still,” a woman’s voice speaks so I don’t move.
“Mom,” my voice croaks, hoarse and dry.
“She’s on her way, Em. Please stay still.” Josh. Is that Josh? It sounds like him. But how? “I know you’re confused. I’ll explain but right now, stay still. Here’s some water. Open.” I open my mouth, pull from a straw and cool water invades my mouth. God, that tastes so good. I start to cough, choke. My head wants to burst open. “Take it slow.” The straw is gone.