The Accident

The Accident:

"Abby!"

That's the last thing I heard before the car fell into the river. What happened next was a blur. I pieced together what I could. The rest, I may never truly know. That might be for the best.

The day had started like any other when you're on vacation. A bit bummed that you're heading back home but excited for whatever was planned for the last day.

My little brother Jack and I were sitting in the Elliot Cruise, a new type of car that ran on solar power. I was riding shotgun with Dad at the wheel and little Jack in the back.

We stared out into the distant city lights as we moved closer towards home.

Five days and six nights down by the ocean.

We were all sunburnt and exhausted but happy as we listened to music in the backseat and sipping the lemonades we got at the gas station once we were about halfway home.

All that was left was to go over the bridge, jump on the highway, exit, and drive downtown where our apartment was. 20 minutes left.

We'd been in the car all morning and were ready to get back home to our beds.

"What are you thinking about tomorrow?" Dad had asked

Jack would be going to Mom's house tomorrow so Dad and I had an extra day to spend together before he went back to work and I had to start working on my courses again. I had opened my mouth to answer him when a loud crash made every car slam on their brakes. Our car was inches from a collision with the one in front of us. Everyone froze out of fear wondering what was coming next. What had happened? With the large trucks in front of us, it was impossible to see. Was there an accident on the bridge? Is that why we can't go through?

Even after a few minutes, traffic was at a standstill. I watched as people started climbing out of their vehicles to figure out the problem. I looked behind us to see that some cars had crashed into one another. Minor damage from the looks of it.

Jack started crying, rattled by all the commotion. It seems like everything has settled down. Everyone still looks confused, wondering why the traffic had stopped. Due to the larger trucks in front of us, it was next to impossible to see what was going on.

I gave Jack a toy to try and soothe him.

People began returning to their cars and I began to relax. I turned to my dad to ask him what he thought had happened when a loud explosion rippled through the air and the bridge started to sway.

I screamed as the ground seemed to sway beneath us. I gripped the door handle so hard my knuckles turned white. Cars blared their horns as people scrambled to escape their vehicles and sprinted towards safety. I watched in silent horror as some people were jumping off the bridge, too far from either side to escape safely.

Panic.

"Abby get out of the car! Come on we have to go!" Dad had shouted as he struggled to unbuckle Jack's seat

Then the bridge swayed again.

“Abby!”

Suddenly, there was nothing as it all went out from under us.

The next thing I knew, I was in a bed staring at white walls. It only took a quick scan around the room to realize I'm in the hospital.

But why?

I look around and realize I'm completely alone.

There is no sound.

No beeping of machines or the normal clattering you hear in the ER.

Why can't I hear anything?

It's dark in here.

As I look around I see none of the machines are hooked up and all of the equipment has been put away. Like there's no one being treated in this room. But I'm in here right now.

What is going on?

Do I have a concussion?

Did I lose my hearing?

Why don't I remember coming here?

My anxiety rises as the thoughts circle in my head. Then a worse memory returns. Jack is crying in the backseat. Dad shouting. I'm thrashing around in the water, pushing to get more air then moving towards the backseat to help Jack. The windows are cracked and water is pouring in. My heart is hammering in my chest and I cheered a bit when I got Jack's buckles unfastened. I held him in my arms and we took a deep breath of air before moving to the front of the car towards Dad.

Then something large collided with the car and everything went black.

Oh my God. Where are they?

I stand up and my legs almost give out from under me. I scan myself up and down as best I can. No bruises, cuts, or broken bones.

I'm okay. I must be. Right?

I feel my ears pop and I shout in pain.

It feels like I got stabbed for a moment.

As if by magic, I can hear again.

I try not to think about it, instead, I put my energy into finding my family.

I hear the sounds on the speaker calling a Code Blue and my anxiety spikes.

I'd watched enough medical shows to know what that code meant. Someone had just died.

I shudder as I look through the hallway and into the adjacent rooms but like mine, they are empty. I scan the signs on the doors and slowly make my way towards the main level of the hospital. I make it to the main doors just as a stretcher comes in with Jack.

He's motionless, head to the side with bandages around his arm and head.

"Low body temp. Near hypothermic. We have one more coming in from this family. Car accident on the bridge." One of the staff members says as they pull him into a room

They get to work putting blankets over him, checking his blood pressure, and hooking him up to machines. One of the nurses sets him up with an oxygen mask.

They talk a bit as they move about their tasks and I learn what happened.

A boat had crashed into one of the bridge's structural beams. That was why all of the cars had stopped, the cause of the first explosion.

The explosion came after, destroying the beam and the bridge in the process.

It was a chain reaction.

Once some of it started to collapse, the rest soon followed. There were at least a dozen dead and plenty more who were injured. Helicopters and Water Rescue were saving those who were still at the scene and helping get them prepped for transport to the hospitals. Divers started to focus on body recovery and at least 2 hospitals were hit with a wave of people so far. It was only getting worse.

I sit in the chair for hours watching over Jack while he sleeps. He still hadn't woken up yet and I couldn't bring myself to leave him. I wonder where Dad is. None of the nurses have said a word to me as they went about their tasks. Then again, I wasn't injured.

I'm staring out the window when one of the machines starts beeping loudly.

Then it flatlines.

His breathing had been fluctuating every so often and the nurses would come in and adjust the flow when needed but otherwise, they left us alone. A cold chill runs through my body as I rush towards him. He's blue in the face and he's not breathing. Doctors rush in quickly and I move out of the way so they can save him.

I watch frozen with fear as one of them starts chest compressions. I hold in a cry and try to focus on what's happening in front of me.

Come on Jack. Breathe. Please breathe.

Where is Dad?

I stare at the monitor, praying for it to beep.

"Save him! Please! Help him!" I shout to the doctors

I can't lose him. I can't.

After a few minutes of no change, I walk out of the room, unable to watch any more of the gruesome scene playing out in my brother's room. I can't watch him die.

I pace back and forth down the hallways, unable to bring myself to find out what had happened quite yet.

I need to be strong. For him.

If Dad is gone...

Dread fills my veins.

I was never close to my mom.

If Dad and Jack don't make it...I'll be alone.

As I round the corner, relief fills my body when I catch sight of my dad. He's in rough shape. He's covered in blankets. His leg is in a cast. His eyes are full of tears as he listens to the information Jack's doctor is giving him.

I move closer.

"I'm sorry Mr. Cason. There's nothing more we can do."

My heart drops and I feel like everything in me has vanished as my world crumbles.

No. He was just a baby.

Something in me tells me to sprint to Jack's room but then I catch sight of the papers that the doctor is handing to my father.

My dad and I do not react to one another, too focused on the document that would give us answers.

But what I read was not what I expected.

It read:

Abby Evans.

5/22/1998 - 8/07/2023

Cause of Death: head trauma from a car accident, died upon impact with a structural beam

SEE REPORT 7682 for more information

Died on impact.

The words turn my blood to ice.

Jack didn't die.

I did.