With her hand still in mine, I brought it to my lips and kissed her knuckles. She moved her head to me, which still rested on the seat, and she smiled.
“Thank you,” she softly said.
I pressed my tongue to the roof of my mouth fighting back every emotion I had. “You’re welcome.”
Another gust of wind came swirling around us and my Gracie laughed the deepest laugh and that’s when I lost it… the tears let go and they flowed like a goddamned river.
I wanted to be strong for her. But I’m so weak right now.
Headlights shown in my rear-view mirror, and they were approaching fast. We’re on the back roads with minimal light and just heavy rain clouding our vision. The car continued to gain on us, but I had nowhere to go. We’re trapped between the car in front and the guardrails on the side.
I kept glancing in the mirror and back to Gracie whose eyes are now shut, small breathes leaving her. I knew she was exhausted.
The car came closer, riding my bumper like a jackass but I kept my cool, even though my blood started boiling.
What was this asshole doing?
I watched as he swerved from left to right going over the middle lane and grass almost hitting the rail.
What the fuck?
I couldn’t get away from him and just as I decided it’s best to pull over, they sped up and maneuvered around us, but the driver couldn’t see over my truck and that’s when it happened.
An approaching car came in the opposite direction around the bend, their horn blaring. They tried to avoid the head on collision by swerving into our lane, but side-swept the car in front of us. Like slow motion, the car went flying up and rolled, only stopping when the guardrail caught them.
Fuck!
“Liem look out!” Gracie’s plead echoed throughout the night as I slammed on my breaks.
It happened so fast I don’t remember anything until we were lying there with the blood rushing to my head jolting me back to consciousness.
“Gracie!” I coughed, tugging at my seatbelt.
“Liem?” she struggled saying my name and my stomach dropped. Her leg was pinned between the smashed glove compartment and her seat.
Shit! Shit!
I reached for her and tugged at her seatbelt, the same time my ribs cried out. But fuck me. All I cared about was getting Gracie out. I went for her leg, and she let out a painful scream.
“Okay, babe. I’m going to get myself out first so that I can free you. Okay?”
Her big, beautiful eyes stared back at me and she nodded.
Slowly, I crawled out of the driver’s side window ignoring the agonizing pain that strummed on me. I went as fast as I could sliding on my stomach to her side of the window. “Gracie. Can you hear me?”
She nodded, but her breathing was heavy and there was panic in her voice. “Yes.”
I tried the seatbelt again, but it wouldn’t fucking budge. Why won’t it fucking move?! I then pulled her leg, and she screamed out again.
And that’s when I smelled it.
I followed where the trickling sound came from. A wet trail poured from the pierced gas tank that ran into the ditch.
Fuck.
“Gracie. Look at me,” I pleaded to her as she stared at the gas. Defeat marred her face.
No. Fuck no.
