300 words daily flash fiction challenge |
White walls. Bright lights. The hum of urgent activity. I am staring at really bright lights. I slowly blink and try to focus. I cannot seem to feel my body. I try to move. These lights are burning a hole in my retinas. I blink again. Images start washing over me- night time, worst blizzard in 50 years, a long slow curve. The kids were arguing over which DVD to watch. I blink again. Did I turn around to tell them to quiet down so I could pay attention to the road? These fluorescent lights are awful. I must be in the hospital. I hope the kids are OK. I need to know about the kids. My eyes are so dry......stupid lights. A gruff voice cuts through. I blink. " you've been in an accident" the buzzing of the lights, the buzzing of activity- it's all so hard to focus. I blink again. " you are lucky we found you- worst storm in 50 years- we only found you because someone noticed the damaged guardrail. I still have men onsite, but it's getting so cold . I need to know if you were travelling with someone." I think about the kids. They must still be out there, alone, in the cold. I blink. My eyes are so dry. The gravelly voice continues " I need to know whether to call my men in - blink once for yes and twice for no- did you have someone travelling with you?" These blasted lights. I must save my kids. I clear my head- I blink to focus, then then do as he says- I blink once for yes. " two blinks- no-one else out there. Call off the search, and get the men back to the station to warm up. They must be freezing to death." |