The sirens are blaring. Somehow I'm able to open one of my eyes through the searing pain. The steering wheel is up by my chin and the hood of the car has accordioned inwards. There is broken glass all around.
I try to move my neck to see if Maria is ok, but I can't. The pain is too sharp. I overhear the firemen yelling instruction to one another as the smoke billows all around us. A fire ignites in what's left from the front of the car. The skin on my left leg burns.
"Maria," I say barely above a whisper as my throat clenches shut.
I try to assess the damage, but can't. I only have the one eye to view with and so, like a broken submarine, I scan my obscure and unrecognizable surroundings.
I know this is bad.
"NOW!" I hear one of the firemen yell as a small burst of flames happens just beyond my feet. The loud crunch from metal ripping is quickly followed by me being yanked out of the car by strong arms and hands.
"Maria," I whisper one more time before a larger explosion behind me occurs.
I am quickly smothered with a large blanket. The pain from the flames engulfing my legs is so extreme that I quickly fade out of this reality and into --
