2 Weeks Earlier
Flashback
“I can’t believe you’re leaving me.” Alyssa Holmes said to her best friend, Kristin Welsh.
“I know. At least we had these past four years together.” Kristin reminded her.
“How come we didn’t become friends before?” Alyssa asked rhetorically.
“I don’t know.” Kristin replied.
“I know you have your own friends and everything but I just thought I’d let you know that I consider you, not only my best friend, but my big sister too. I’m gunna miss you so much. You’ve made the biggest impact on my life. I don’t know what I would’ve done without you.” Alyssa told her.
“Aw, Aly, you’re gunna make me cry. I love you.” Kristin hugged her.
“I’m sorry, I love you too.” Alyssa wiped the tears from her face. “Go on. You have line up. It’s your big moment.”
“Thanks, Aly. I don’t where I where I would be if you hadn’t found me after the wreck. You saved my life.”
“C’mon, Mom! Kristin got me this interview and I don’t want to be late!” Alyssa yelled upstairs to her mom.
“I’m coming, Aly! Go start the car!” She yelled back.
Just as Aly grabbed the keys off the hook, the phone rang.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Aly? It’s Kristin. I just wanted to let you know there was an accident on Carver Road and they closed it. You have to go by way of Central Ave.”
“Okay, thanks. We’re leaving now.”
“All right, I’ll see you there.” Kristin said.
“Yep, bye.” Aly hung up and turned around to see her mother waiting in the doorway.
“Who was that?” She asked.
“Kristin. Carver Road is closed. We have to go by Central Ave.” Alyssa replied.
“Okay, well, let’s go then.” She told her.
They left the house and headed to “Daisy’s” where Alyssa had a job interview.
“Aly, would you stop playing with the radio?” Her mother said, “I’m trying to concentrate.”
It had started to pour rain just as they pulled onto the main road.
“Sorry.” Alyssa flipped it to 96.3 where ‘Ocean Avenue’ by Yellowcard had just started. “Oh, I love this song.”
“I know.” Her mother sighed. Alyssa played their CD constantly at home.
“Oh my God! Mom! Look at that car!” Alyssa pointed ahead to a blue Hyundai that was in a ditch, under a fallen tree.
“Wow, I hope they got out okay.”
As they passed the car, Alyssa recognized the blue dolphin steering wheel cover and the WILMINGTON LACROSSE TEAM bumper sticker.
“Mom! Stop the car now!”
Her mom slammed on the brakes.
“Aly! Stop yelling!”
"Mom! That’s Kristin’s car!” Aly jumped out of the car and ran over. “Kristin?” She slid down the ditch, getting soaking wet from the rain and covered in mud, to the car window. “She’s still in there! Call 911!” She lifted the handle on the door and pulled hard but it was stuck. “What am I gunna do? I gotta get the door open.” She climbed out of the ditch and grabbed the pry bar out of the trunk of their car.
After sliding back down to the car, Alyssa used all her strength to open the door.
“Kristin? Can you hear me? Kristin?”
When she didn’t get a response she felt for a pulse. It was really weak.
“Mom! Is anyone coming?”
“I just called! They said 5 minutes! Is she okay?”
“I don’t know! Her pulse is really weak.” Alyssa replied, starting to panic.
“Alright, just stay with her. I’m gunna drive down to her house and tell her parents.” Her mother told her. “The ambulance should be here any minute.”
“Okay! Kristin, come on, Kristin, wake up.” Alyssa pleased. It was the only thing she could do until the ambulance came. She was afraid to move her but managed to take her hand in her own. “Please, Kristin? Don’t give up on me. Remember that time I took a picture of you right after you woke up on the bus? You nearly killed me after that.”
“Kristin, wake up. We’re home and it’s almost one in the morning.” Alyssa said.
“Huh? What?” Kristin said up from her position on the seat of the big yellow bus. It was the annual Busch Gardens trip.
“Say cheese!” Alyssa laughed and snapped a picture of her.
“Aly! Oh my God! I’m gunna kill you!” She exclaimed jumping into Alyssa’s seat and tackling her.
“Ahh!! Kristin!! Stop that tickles!” Alyssa screamed trying to push her off.
“Never!” Kristin laughed.
“I had so many bruises after that but it’s okay. It was a great picture and well worth it.” Alyssa kept talking to Kristin, hoping she’d wake up. She just sat there, in silence, hoping for the best.
Breaking the silence, Alyssa heard the ambulance pull up.
“Down here! Hurry!” She yelled.
Paramedics came from every which direction and everything happened so fast it made Alyssa’s head spin.
“Will you be riding with her?” A man asked.
“Yes.” Alyssa climbed into the ambulance and they drove away.