A pair of headlights shone brightly into the couple’s eyes as they saw that a car was coming across the highway, headed in their direction. Nick slammed on the brakes and swerved to the right, but they were going to fast to stop or to avoid sliding on the wet road. The jeep flipped once and landed on the side of the road, so that the driver’s side of the car was against the hard, wet pavement. Kelly’s shrill screams and Nick’s deep howl were both heard, along with the screeching tires and busting glass.
Kelly opened her eyes and moaned at the pain shooting through left her leg. She looked down and saw blood along her arms and legs. She didn’t feel any pain, except that in her left leg, so she wondered where all the blood was coming from. Kelly moved her body so that she could see Nick--an image that would she would never forget, as long as she lived.
At first, all she caught was a glimpse of was his right hand that was lying limp against the steering wheel. As she followed his hand up his blood-streaked arm, she saw him. His face was pale, except for the bright red blood that splotched it, and his eyes were closed as he layed there. His head had gone through the window so that it was lying on the pavement. The rain was pouring down against his face, washing away some of the blood and soaking his hair. Kelly looked down in horror at the love of her life lying there covered in his blood, obviously unconscious.
She quickly pulled out her cell phone and dialed for an ambulance. Within minutes, they were there to get Nick out of the jeep without further injuring him. Kelly was crying uncontrollably as they carefully pulled his limp body out of the crumpled heap that was once their jeep.
The parmedics strapped Nick onto a stretcher and helped Kelly into the back of the ambulance so that they could both be examined in the emergency room. Kelly grasped her husband’s hand firmly as tears fell down her cheeks, while the paramedics put an oxygen mask over Nick’s mouth and nose.
“Please let me go see my husband! I am fine!” Kelly yelled (a thing she rarely did) at the nurse.
“I’m sorry Mrs. Carter, but we have to make sure you’re alright,” the middle-aged nurse, with brown hair and gray highlights replied.
Kelly rolled her eyes and sat impatiently on the examining table. The nurse tended to the cuts on Kelly’s arms and legs. The glass had cut her in a few places, but nothing major. All Kelly cared about was getting to her husband to see how he was.
“Okay, you’re all done Mrs. Carter,” the nurse said, allowing Kelly to leave the room.
“Where is Nickolas Carter?” Kelly asked, walking up to the reception desk.
“Um…he’s in intensive care. I’m afraid you can’t see him. Are you of any relation to Mr. Carter?” the receptionist asked.
“Yes! I’m his wife! What room number?” Kelly raised her voice, annoyed that the hospital officials seemed to be deliberately keeping her and her husband apart.
“128, it’s on the 3rd floor,” the nurse told Kelly.
Although she had so desperately wanted to get to her husband, she dreaded what she may find upon her arrival. She limped slightly, because of the stinging cuts on her leg, and took the elevator to the 3rd floor. It was so late that most of the patients were asleep, and the floor was eerily quiet. Chills went through Kelly’s body as she slowly approaced room 128. She silently opened the door and immediately heard the machines and the beeping of the heart monitor hooked up to her husband’s heart. She slowly appoached the bed and saw Nick’s limp body stretched across the crisp, white bed sheets. An intrevenous needle was stuck in his hand, feeding him fluids, and tubes were hooked up to him everywhere. Tears welled up in Kelly’s eyes immediately and they silently glided down her cheeks as she looked at this lifeless creature in front of her. The life and color weren’t in his cheeks anymore and his eyes were tightly closed. Kelly carefully caressed his cheek, making sure she didn’t touch one of his numerous cuts.
Although she bit her lips, held her breath, or looked away to keep the tears from coming, she finally broke down in sobs. She grasped Nick’s hand harder as the pain in her heart became deeper.
“Excuse me,” a male voice interrupted her sobs.
Kelly quickly choked back her tears and roughly wiped her eyes. She turned around and faced a doctor, who looked to be in his forties.
“Are you Mrs. Carter?” the doctor, with friendly green eyes questioned her.
“Yes, yes I’m Kelly Carter,” she stumbled upon the words, outstretching her hand.
He shook her hand politely and gestured for her to sit down. Kelly looked at him expectantly and full of fear of the news that may fall from his lips.
“Mrs. Carter, your husband has been seriously injured. I’m surprised that you’re not hurt worse than you are. You’re very lucky,” he said solemnly, glancing from Kelly to Nick to the floor.
“What about my husband?” Kelly said wanting an honest answer.
“He has a broken arm and severe head injuries. I can’t say for sure right now how severe, but he does have a concussion. Sometimes they slip into comas, sometimes they come right out of it. I can’t judge for sure right now what Nick will do. All we can do is wait and pray. I’m sorry,” the doctor placed his large, chubby hand on Kelly’s shoulder.
She nodded her head slightly and stared down at the floor, lost in thought. What would she do if Nick didn’t just come out of it? What if he slipped out of her arms, into a coma? Hot burning tears welled in her eyes, and she cried uncontrollably never once taking her eyes off of her husband.
