The
Accident
Snow fell like a curtain of
feathers, bending the flashing lights from the emergency vehicles like a
kaleidoscope against the dark placid sky of Donivan's Bridge. Rachael got out
of her car in a panicked rush forgetting to shut her door. She pushed passed
the crowd of people like a mad woman on black Friday, to the front line. Please
let them be okay she begged.
Officers in their black coats and uniforms stood holding the crowd at bay from those curious onlookers, while communicating in special code through walkie talkies and shouting orders to get back, stay clear, and give the medical crew some room. Rachael stopped at the yellow caution tape barrier staring in horror at the mangled cars, both still smoldering on the bridge. Firefighters stood around surveying the smoky mess in hopes the fire was finally extinguished and under control.
"No," Rachael whispered under her breath. A silent prayer escaped her parted lips as she lifted the yellow strand of tape anxious to get to the wreck. She was a woman on a mission, panic driven and determined to be with her family, to make sure they had survived.
"Ma'am? Ma'am? You can't go over there, it's dangerous," a tall officer in a black over coat said as he took hold of her forearm to keep her from the accident. His face held expected obedience and a tone of authority in his voice. He was well groomed in the facial features but his dark brown eyes held a bit of exhaustion as he tried to maintain order amongst the audience of on lookers.
"My daughter...my husband they need me," She begged. "Please, I have to see them. I have to know they are okay." Rachael slipped her arm out of the officer's grip and started toward the accident. The officer grabbed her arm again his grip a little more firm but his eyes filled with concern and more compassion for the poor woman.
"I'm sorry ma'am I can't let you through. The situation is unstable. And we have a medical chopper prepared to land in the safe zone. You'll just be in the way." Rachael ripped her arm out of his grip and stared at him with icy daggers. Of course the situation was unstable...it was a car accident. She wasn't just part of the crowd or a wild hoodlum banking on the chaotic scene playing out before them, she wanted closure, relief, stability in her own panic driven life that this car wreck dropped on her. She was a business woman, a mother and wife in high heels and a skirt on a snowy bridge with no coat on but the button down blouse she wore under blizzard like conditions. She had a plan. What ever the consequences were for her actions in the next few seconds she was ready to deal with personally.
"How dare you call yourself an officer! I have a little girl out there, who may in fact, be crying out for her mother and here you are preventing me from going to her aid! You have no right to hold me back."
"I understand your concern I'm just trying to do my job. Look, the emergency crew is doing all that they can to help your family, the best you can do is go wait at the hospital until they arrive with your loved ones." Wrong answer.
Rachael made a run for it. Her heels slid through the ankle deep snow as she kept herself balanced with her pace.
"HEY!" The officer shouted and cursed as he made a quick movement to grab the sleeve of her blouse, but he slid sideways nearly falling over in the snow. Rachael looked back as she passed a group of firemen who smelt very strong of burnt rubber and smoke, to see the police officer talking into a hand radio and pointing in her direction like the person on the other end could see him. She evaded the situation for now but the plausibility of a second run on the officer was slim. He would have back up. Rachael trudged through the snow searching the scene for her daughter and her husband. More firefighters and medical crew passed her. The scene looked like a hive of bees collaborating together to fulfill each duty.
Officers in their black coats and uniforms stood holding the crowd at bay from those curious onlookers, while communicating in special code through walkie talkies and shouting orders to get back, stay clear, and give the medical crew some room. Rachael stopped at the yellow caution tape barrier staring in horror at the mangled cars, both still smoldering on the bridge. Firefighters stood around surveying the smoky mess in hopes the fire was finally extinguished and under control.
"No," Rachael whispered under her breath. A silent prayer escaped her parted lips as she lifted the yellow strand of tape anxious to get to the wreck. She was a woman on a mission, panic driven and determined to be with her family, to make sure they had survived.
"Ma'am? Ma'am? You can't go over there, it's dangerous," a tall officer in a black over coat said as he took hold of her forearm to keep her from the accident. His face held expected obedience and a tone of authority in his voice. He was well groomed in the facial features but his dark brown eyes held a bit of exhaustion as he tried to maintain order amongst the audience of on lookers.
"My daughter...my husband they need me," She begged. "Please, I have to see them. I have to know they are okay." Rachael slipped her arm out of the officer's grip and started toward the accident. The officer grabbed her arm again his grip a little more firm but his eyes filled with concern and more compassion for the poor woman.
"I'm sorry ma'am I can't let you through. The situation is unstable. And we have a medical chopper prepared to land in the safe zone. You'll just be in the way." Rachael ripped her arm out of his grip and stared at him with icy daggers. Of course the situation was unstable...it was a car accident. She wasn't just part of the crowd or a wild hoodlum banking on the chaotic scene playing out before them, she wanted closure, relief, stability in her own panic driven life that this car wreck dropped on her. She was a business woman, a mother and wife in high heels and a skirt on a snowy bridge with no coat on but the button down blouse she wore under blizzard like conditions. She had a plan. What ever the consequences were for her actions in the next few seconds she was ready to deal with personally.
"How dare you call yourself an officer! I have a little girl out there, who may in fact, be crying out for her mother and here you are preventing me from going to her aid! You have no right to hold me back."
"I understand your concern I'm just trying to do my job. Look, the emergency crew is doing all that they can to help your family, the best you can do is go wait at the hospital until they arrive with your loved ones." Wrong answer.
Rachael made a run for it. Her heels slid through the ankle deep snow as she kept herself balanced with her pace.
"HEY!" The officer shouted and cursed as he made a quick movement to grab the sleeve of her blouse, but he slid sideways nearly falling over in the snow. Rachael looked back as she passed a group of firemen who smelt very strong of burnt rubber and smoke, to see the police officer talking into a hand radio and pointing in her direction like the person on the other end could see him. She evaded the situation for now but the plausibility of a second run on the officer was slim. He would have back up. Rachael trudged through the snow searching the scene for her daughter and her husband. More firefighters and medical crew passed her. The scene looked like a hive of bees collaborating together to fulfill each duty.
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