|
One Cloudy Day By Barbara L. Hampton I am so glad my workday is finally over. I am exhausted and cold. I haven’t slept through the night in over a year. I really need a vacation somewhere warm and sunny, with a nice ocean breeze. Well, back to reality. I need to concentrate on my driving. I have to get to my daughter’s softball game; hopefully it won’t be over before I get there. It is so cloudy and dreary out here. It is also April fifteenth, the last day to send in taxes. I don’t have to worry about that, mine are already filed and my refund spent. I really should pay attention to my driving. I am glad I have the Suburban to drive today. It is so damp out and it has a good heater. It is so warm in here that I keep falling asleep. Maybe I should pull over. No, I can’t do that! I want to get to my daughter’s game before it’s over. She’s probably wondering where I am. I only have about seven more minutes until I get to town. Maybe I should open a window, but then I will get cold again. I can turn the radio up loud. That might help to keep me awake. Sounds like a good plan to me. The clouds look really strange today. When is the weather going to feel like springtime? It is starting to rain now. That’s all I need to make driving more miserable. I wish I could stay awake. I will think about the things I need to do this week; maybe that will help. What was that loud bang? I think I’m off the road. I don’t know where I am! There are branches and trees flying by me. It feels like I’m Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. I can’t stop; the brake is already to the floor. I feel like I am floating; am I dead? Why won’t this truck stop? I hear another crash to my right. It sounds like glass breaking. Oh, no! There is the mirror to the passenger door on the floor next to me. Time to panic. I think I had an accident. I think I have finally stopped moving. There are people running towards me. They seem to be running in slow motion. Who are they? What do they want? I think I am in big trouble! Are they after me? I have to get out of here. I can’t move or get out. Please lady, stop pounding on my window; you will break it. Stop yelling at me! What is she saying? She’s telling me to turn my motor off. I can’t do that; I have to get out of here! I smell something hot, no, something sweet, like antifreeze. I hear sirens now. Oh, please, I just want to go home. There is a policeman coming towards me. I am in big trouble! He keeps telling me I will be all right, to just hang in there. Of course I'm all right, you fool, aren't I? I see a fireman that I know. He will tell me the truth. He is telling me I had an accident and I will be all right. My husband is going to kill me! I have just ruined his truck. Please let me go to my children. He is telling me I can't do that. I have to see them. The fireman told me he will locate them. I told him my son should be there. He drives now. He said he would find my children for me. He will have them come to the hospital, not to worry. I am on my way to the hospital. I don't want to go; please take me home. I am so confused and I hurt. I wish they would let me sleep now. The EMT says no, I have to stay awake. I really wish she’d shut up! She yells for a blanket. I hear her say that I may be going into shock. Oh, why is it so cloudy out. I wish I could go home. My kids have finally arrived to be with me. They look sad and pale, but relieved to see that I’m all right. I hurt all over, but I am alive. I am also very grateful to see the two most important people in my life. The doctor tells them I can go home now. She needs rest and have her follow these instructions. Finally, I can go home. It is amazing how that one cloudy day has changed my life forever. |