We manage to reach the hospital ahead of the others and so I hide Maria behind a dumpster.
"Do not move!" I tell her. "I will be back as soon as possible."
She winces, but makes sure to nod her head in agreement. It's the last thing I see as I turn the bend and race towards Jim's with everything I have. I have no idea how much of an advantage we still have, but I don't waste a second harbouring on it when I need that second to propel me forward.
I ignore the burning in my chest and lungs and focus my eyes on the road ahead. Jim's is just to the right of the next bend. I try not to let my mind become flooded with thoughts about the probability of the car not being there. Instead, I focus on the reality that it is most likely standing where we last left it.
"Think positive," I say under my breath as I turn the bend.
When I reach Jim's a wave of relief washes over me as I find my car sitting there as if it was always waiting for me. When I get to the driver's side door I see the keys in the ignition.
"Thank God," I say and slide into the driver's seat to start the car.
"Please, please, please." I whisper as my hand turns the key. There is a bit of a cough, but a moment later, the cars starts. I start to pull away but realize that we might need to stock up on some gas and so I reverse the car up to Jim's garage. Leaving the car running I race quickly into Jim's garage to grab two containers of gasoline and put them in the trunk.
A minute later I'm back on the road -- seconds away from reaching Maria. I start to negotiate whether or not we should grab some rations when it dawns on me that Maria might very well be in labour and that we will probably need to grab supplies from the hospital.
"Shit!" I yell into the empty car.
I should have thought of that beforehand.
I should have thought of that beforehand.
"Shit! Shit! Shit!" I say as I take out all my frustration on the steering wheel.
When my mini-tantrum is done I take a deep breath and tell myself that everything is going to be --
But then I hear it:
A blood curdling scream.
My heart sinks as I press the gas pedal all the way to the floor. And as the car jumps into high gear and gives me all it has; I already know I'm too late. The others have reached Maria, and I am not there to stop them.
