A man trying to escape horrific memories awakens to a nightmare where everyone he thought was lost isn’t, and anyone who wasn’t is.
This fictional drama features the mental effects of a catastrophic trauma years after the event.
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Tragic Memories
FORTY-SEVEN-YEAR-OLD Monty Evans has been working hard to overcome the tragedies of his prior marriage. It brought forth a lovely daughter, and he was deeply in love with his wife. Sadly, those wonderful memories were interrupted by a fatal automobile accident.
It took him years to overcome troubling thoughts of their last conversation. Both his wife Barbara, and daughter Jenny, warned him not to drive.
Minimizing his alcohol consumption, he said, “It’s only a couple of drinks. I feel clear-headed,” before climbing behind the wheel anyway.
He passed a highway breathalyzer test, so the driver of the other vehicle was legally at fault. But Monty feels his reflexes may still have been impaired.
During the preceding years, his parents and siblings succumbed to various illnesses. This leaves him as the sole survivor of his childhood life.
Fresh Start
Monty’s beautiful second wife Nancy, is just five years his junior. This is her first marriage, but she fears it’s too late to start a family. This is something they discussed at length before exchanging vows. Not yet retired, Monty can’t help feeling his home is an empty nest.
The couple forges ahead with new memories by vacationing several times throughout the year. Though Monty has abstained from alcohol since the accident, Nancy enjoys an occasional margarita or glass of wine with a meal.
On their first wedding anniversary, they each consume a couple of glasses of champagne at a local dining establishment. An hour goes by, but Monty is not comfortable driving with any alcohol in his system. So he asks Nancy to drive back home.
Nearing the intersection where he had the accident, Monty’s heart begins to race.
“Please slow down,” he warns as the car swerves.
Then, through the driver-side window, he sees headlights rapidly approaching. There is barely enough time to brace his feet on the floor before impact. The faces of everyone dear to him flash before his eyes, muffling the sound of tire skids, shattered glass, and airbag deployment.
Emergency Responders
Distant sirens fade to silence as Monty loses consciousness. He awakens bandaged up in a hospital emergency room.
His first words are, “How’s my wife? Where is she?”
An attending nurse assures him, “She and your daughter are fine. It’s a good thing everyone was wearing seatbelts.”
“Pardon me. I have no daughter, and there are too many traumatic memories to make such an egregious mistake.”
“I’m sorry Mr. Evans. Let me look at their charts again. Is your address 5554 East Park Court?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Well, the identification of the two other passengers is the same. In fact, Barbara and Jenny Evans have been inquiring about your well-being.”
“I must be hallucinating. What type of drugs are in this IV fluid?”
“Right now, it’s just saline fluid with potassium. You did receive some naproxen earlier to dull your pain.”
“Can I go see them, or can they come in here?”
“You have some contusions on your head. The doctor prefers that you rest until your vitals stabilize and he’s certain you’re ambulatory. I can give your family a message if you like.”
“Yes! Tell them I love them and I’m sorry.”
“Sure thing, Mr. Evans. Now, lie back down and close your eyes.”
His eyelids flutter before soon yielding to resistance. Within moments, he sees himself traveling through the same intersection. His family is arguing with him over his sobriety. Bright lights and a crash awaken him.
He now wonders if his life with Nancy was a dream. Perhaps his entire family survived the accident occurring when he was the driver. Hours have passed. He can’t wait to be reunited.
The nurse enters to say, “Your vitals are stable now. The doctor is satisfied with your radiology reports. Your wife would like to visit you if you’re up to it.”
“Sure. Bring her in!”
The slow footsteps heighten his anticipation. They get closer, until finally she rounds the bin and says, “It’s so good to see you.”
“Thank you, Nancy,” he replies with confusion and disappointment.
The End
Return twice weekly for miniseries. Any relation to actual persons or events is coincidental. Login provides the most immersive experience. About 700 total words.
